Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board today decided to rush pace bowler, Umar Gul to join the national side for the last three one-day matches against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.
"Umar Gul is being flown to Sharjah tomorrow morning on the request of the team management," an official of the board said.
Gul, 29, has not played for the national side since last February when he appeared in the one-day series in South Africa.
A knee surgery in May has since kept him out of the side although he recently resumed playing domestic cricket and took 11 wickets in his only first class match last week since his injury.
"The tour management has discussed the situation with the national selectors and they have decided that Gul should be available for the last three one-day matches against Sri Lanka," the official said.
Gul is at present Pakistan's most experienced pace bowler with 163 test, 161 ODI and 74 T20 international wickets in a successful career which was suspended due to the knee injury this year.
In 2004-2005 also, Gul suffered a back problem which kept him out of cricket for a while. "Gul has completed his rehabilitation process and has appeared in some One day and T20 games this domestic season and last week also played a first class match for Habib Bank," another official said.
The decision to rush Gul came after Pakistan lost the second one-dayer after posting a total of 284 in Dubai on Friday. Sohail Tanvir went for lot of runs in the match.
"I am delighted to be back in the national side and after last week's match I am feeling now match fit," Gul told reporters.
Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in second ODI
Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in second ODI
Dubai: Pakistan had salt rubbed into their wounds when they were fined for their slow over-rate during a narrow two-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka today.
Pakistan looked on course to win after posting a healthy 284 in their innings in the second One day International in Dubai, but the Sri Lankan tail-enders saw their team home with just two balls to spare.
And on Saturday the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Misbah-ul-Haq's team were one over short during the time allotted for the 50 overs.
"Match referee David Boon of Australia imposed the fines after Pakistan was ruled to be one over short of its target, after time allowances were taken into consideration," the ICC said in a statement.
In accordance with the ICC code of conduct, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount. The penalty was accepted by Pakistan without contest so there was no need for a hearing, the ICC said.
Sri Lanka's win on Friday levelled the five-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan had won the first match in Sharjah by 11 runs. The third match will be played back in Sharjah on Sunday followed by the last two in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.
Both teams will also play three Tests after the one-day series.
