Knee injury threatens Umar Gul's career yet again

Umar Gul (L) with Kevin Pietersen ahead of the Lord’s bicentenary match

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has reportedly exacerbated his right knee, one on which he had a keyhole surgery last year in the month of May after the injury threatened to bring a premature end to his cricket career, while representing Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in the Lord’s bicentenary match against Rest of the World (RoW) XI.

The 30-year-old was taken off the field after bowling 2 overs in the first innings of the match, as he reported of experiencing discomfort in his knee. Although his team went on to win the match, his absence was one of the chief reasons why RoW XI – cashing in on the part-time overs of Sachin Tendulkar and Aaron Finch – made a match out of it.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), a source close to the Pakistan selectors said: "He went off after bowling two overs and fielded only for a while. We have heard that he might have aggravated the same right knee on which he had surgery last year.”

"Gul has struggled and bowled with the knee problem for sometime now which is why he was sent to have the surgery. He figures prominently in our future plans leading up to the World Cup so obviously the selectors are concerned with him bowling just two overs at Lords," the source added.

Albeit being inconsistent, Gul is one of the world’s leading limited overs bowlers going around, with his ability to bowl at the death rivalling Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga - the best in the business right now. Pakistan would be hoping that it isn’t serious and that he would be fit in time for the 2015 ICC World Cup. If he doesn’t, though, his void is difficult to fill, more so in such a short notice.

The actual status about his injury will be known tomorrow, the source added. Gul has 173 wickets in 124 One Day International matches and 80 wickets in 56 Twenty20 internationals at an average of 28.70 and 16.75, respectively.