Pakistan bowler Umar Gul, who earned the nickname “Gul-dozer” for his rattling of stumps, has called time on his 17-year cricket career.
With no crowds to bid farewell to the national hero because of coronavirus restrictions, the Twenty20 World Cup winner bowed out to a guard of honor from teammates and opponents after his final match -- a disappointing defeat -- in Rawalpindi Friday.
It was a topsy-turvy journey for the 36-year old Gul, whose affair with cricket began on the crowded streets of Peshawar.
He entered the international arena exactly a month after the legendary pace duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis retired following Pakistan's disastrous 2003 World Cup.
It was like the baton of swing bowling had been passed from one generation to another, Gul recalled.
He finished with 163 Test and 179 ODI wickets, but he achieved his greatest success in T20 cricket, the start of his career coinciding with the launch of the shortest format in 2003.
Gul was at his destructive best in England in 2009, finishing as the top wicket taker of the World T20I with 13.
That included a mesmerizing five wickets for just six runs in the semi-final win over New Zealand.
At the time, Pakistan's military was fighting an insurgency from militants in the northwestern region of the country.
Gul attributes his T20 skills to the early days of his love for the game.
But his baptism was in Test cricket, where he became an instant hero in 2004.
In only his fifth Test, Gul destroyed a star-studded Indian batting order in a Lahore Test with figure of 5/21.
His victims included the great Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman.
The feat almost halted a burgeoning career, causing a stress fracture in his back.
He later featured in the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008, topping the chart for the Kolkata Knight Riders with 12 wickets in six games - the only time Pakistan players were allowed to feature in the world's most lucrative league.
But the 2011 World Cup semi-final against India - in the one-day format - turned out to be the most bitter of his career.
He was targeted by the top order and finished with figure of 0-69 in eight overs for the match in Mohali, India.
With his playing years now behind him, next for Gul is a move into coaching.
