The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed the appointment of former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul as their new bowling coach for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan. The five-match series is scheduled for May 2025 and marks the beginning of Gul’s tenure under a short-term agreement designed to strengthen Bangladesh’s pace attack.
At 42, Gul brings a wealth of international experience and coaching insight. His initial contract spans three months, with the potential for an extension through to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup based on performance and mutual agreement. Commenting on the appointment, Gul shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity: “It’s an exciting offer, and I look forward to it.”
Gul played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s 2009 ICC T20 World Cup win, particularly shining in the semifinal against New Zealand with figures of 5 for 6 — one of the most iconic bowling spells in T20 history. Over his career, he claimed 163 Test wickets, 179 ODI wickets, and 85 T20I wickets.
Following his retirement, Gul transitioned smoothly into coaching, holding key roles with the Pakistan national team, Afghanistan, and Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He was recently seen mentoring Karachi Kings’ pacer Abbas Afridi, further emphasizing his active engagement with upcoming talent.
Gul’s expertise arrives at a crucial time for Bangladesh’s bowling unit, which includes rising speedster Naheed Rana — who consistently clocks over 150 KPH — alongside established names such as Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Khalid Hasan. His coaching is expected to boost their performance ahead of high-profile tournaments like the Asia Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026.
This move continues the recent trend of former Pakistani players taking coaching roles abroad, following Younis Khan’s appointment as a mentor for Afghanistan.
Originally planned as a mix of three ODIs and three T20Is under the Future Tours Programme (FTP), the tour was restructured into a five-match T20I series to better prepare both teams for upcoming white-ball competitions. While the series is confirmed for May, official dates and venues are still to be finalized.
