Umar Gul joins Bangladesh cricket team as bowling coach for Pakistan tour

Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul will serve as Bangladesh’s new bowling coach during their upcoming T20I tour of Pakistan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed.

Umar Gul, 42, will begin his tenure with Bangladesh during their five-match T20I series in May, as part of a short-term deal aimed at strengthening the team’s fast-bowling department.

The BCB has initially offered a three-month contract, with a possible extension through to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup depending on mutual satisfaction following the series.

Gul confirmed the development, stating that while the final terms are still under discussion, he is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s an exciting offer, and I look forward to it,” Gul said.

The former fast bowler was a central figure in Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup triumph, most notably taking 5 wickets for 6 runs in the semifinal against New Zealand. Over his international career, Gul picked up 163 wickets in Tests, 179 in ODIs, and 85 in T20Is.

Post-retirement, Gul transitioned into coaching, serving in roles with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Recently, Gul was also seen training with Karachi Kings' player Abbas Afridi.

Bangladesh’s current pool of pacers includes Naheed Rana, who consistently bowls above 150 KPH, alongside Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Khalid Hasan.

Gul’s experience is expected to play a key role in their development ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026. He's the latest ex-Pakistani player to jump ship to coach other teams, after Younis Khan's 'mentor' role for Afghanistan's cricket team.

The Bangladesh tour to Pakistan was originally set to include three ODIs and three T20Is under the Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, both boards later agreed to convert the series into five T20Is to better align with upcoming white-ball competitions.

The five-match series will be held in May, though exact dates and venues are yet to be announced.

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