Cricket: Umar Gul To Join Bangladesh as Bowling Coach for Pakistan Tour?
Gul Favourite to Replace Andre Adams as Bangladesh Bowling Coach
Former Pakistan speedster Umar Gul is the leading candidate to take over the role as Bangladesh’s new fast bowling coach, with reports indicating that Andre Adams, the team’s current coach, is nearing an exit.
Adams is under contract with the Tigers until February 2026, but word around the rumour mill suggests that the former New Zealand cricketer’s tenure with the team could be cut short owing to his “dissatisfying” performance in recent years.
While there have been several mixed reports indicating that Gul has already been handed his new role with the team, the 42-year-old cleared up the speculation in a recent interview with the media, where he said:
“We are in talks, but nothing is confirmed yet. The confirmation depends on mutual understanding and terms and conditions, and that is dependent on the board.”
It is understood that if Gul is given the coaching role with the Tigers, it will be ahead of the team’s tour of Pakistan in May and will be on an initial three-month basis, with the potential for an extension to 2027 if all parties are satisfied following the series against the Green Shirts.
However, the former Pakistan bowler is expected to face tough competition for the job, with former Australian quick Shaun Tait also under consideration, along with West Indian Ottis Gibson and South African legend Allan Donald.
Bangladesh have also made other key decisions in their backroom setup, with head coach Phil Simmons’s contract being extended until the 2027 ICC World Cup, while Mohammad Salahuddin is expected to become the team’s assistant coach in the coming days.
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Umar Gul Credentials and Career
During his time playing for the Pakistan national team, Gul was a regular feature in the side, making a total of 60 T20Is, 130 ODIs and 47 Test appearances, since bursting onto the scene against Bangladesh in Karachi in August 2003.
He also played a crucial role in the Shaheens' 2009 T20 World Cup triumph, where he bagged an incredible five wickets for just six runs against New Zealand in the semi-final of the competition.
After retiring from all forms of the game in 2020, Gul began his journey into coaching, serving as the bowling coach of Pakistan Super League outfit Quetta Gladiators before taking up coaching positions with the Pakistan national team and, most recently, Afghanistan in 2022.
Should the 42-year-old secure the role with the Tigers, he will be tasked with moulding a group of promising Bangladeshi pace bowlers, including the likes of Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana.
Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to face off in five T20Is during May (dates to be confirmed), and you can view our cricket predictions for those matches ahead of the first fixture.
