Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul, who has faced recurring knee problems, is considering walking away from Test cricket to further his career. The 30-year- old's career has been blighted by knee injuries for more than a year now.
The speedster last turned out in whites for Pakistan in February of 2013 against South Africa. It was on the same tour in the second one-day international in Centurion against the Proteas where he became aware of the injury.
"I don't feel comfortable bowling right now because of the knee problem and if you ask me right now if I could play Test matches I would say no," said the pacer, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Gul wants to participate in the Tests against Australia in UAE in October. However, if he isn't completely satisfied with his fitness he wouldn't risk being selected.
"It is never easy to make a comeback from a knee surgery. But I have tried to do my best as I want to play for Pakistan. But if I am not feeling 100 percent fit and I don't feel comfortable bowling I will not make myself available for selection," the speedster pointed out.
This injury of his meant he had to undergo surgery in May of last year in Australia.
Doctors and trainers at the National Cricket Academy in Pakistan have admitted that he isn't completely fit and more rehabilitation and time in the gym was required to fix the knee problem, according to Gul.
In December last year, former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis had made it clear that there were question marks as to whether Gul could cope with the demands of a Test match because of his injury.
"I don't think he is ready as yet to play in a Test match where you have to bowl 20 to 25 overs in a day. For a fast bowler, it takes time to have a complete recovery from a knee surgery. I would not risk pushing him early into Test matches," Younis was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Since his surgery in May 2013, Gul's appearances have been few and far between--he's played a mere eight one day internationals and four T20 games.
At present Pakistan could do with the services of Gul. In the first Test of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka the inexperienced pace attack had no answer against left-hander Kumar Sangakkara, who continued his purple patch by making 280 runs.
