Injured Umar Gul requires at least one month to recover from knee surgery

It will take another 4-6 weeks before we can see Umar Gul back in action

Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Umar Gul will require another one month at least to recover from the knee surgery which he had to undergo after complaining of severe pain and swelling in the right knee during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa earlier this year.

Gul, who is presently the most senior pace bowler in the Pakistani side with 163 Test, 161 ODI and 74 T20 international wickets to his name, had to undergo surgery to his right knee in Australia after complaining of excruciating discomfort in the region.

As a result of his injury, Gul had to miss out playing for his country in the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies in the Caribbean after the Champions Trophy which arch-rivals India won in England.

As reported by NDTV Sports, Gul, however is concentrating on regaining full fitness and has not been put under any pressure to reunite with the Pakistani squad as soon as possible, according to PCB doctor Sohail Saleem.

“I would say he requires another four to six weeks before he can get back to bowling. Right now we have just started putting pressure on both his knees so it remains to be seen how he responds, but his rehabilitation program has gone well so far. We will not rush things where his fitness is concerned,” Saleem said.

Gul, who is in the last phase of his rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy said on Friday: “It has been a frustrating time for me and I miss being with the Pakistan team. But right now I am just concentrating on regaining full fitness,” he said.

The Pakistani pacers have performed admirably in absence of Gul and the return of the senior pacer will be much awaited by the team to bolster their bowling further.

Pakistan’s next international assignment will be against South Africa in UAE in October-November this year where they play two Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is.