Former Pakistan quick Umar Gul joins Afghanistan as bowling coach

The appointment is the first since Graham Thorpe was announced as the team's new head coach earlier this week

Afghanistan have added Umar Gul as bowling coach following the appointment of Graham Thorpe as head coach.

The ex-Pakistan quick retired from all cricket in 2020 and currently works as Quetta Gladiators' bowling lead.

He's also had spells in the Lanka Premier League and Kashmir Premier League.

Gul played 47 Tests, 130 one-day internationals and 60 T20Is for his country, taking 427 wickets.

"Honoured to be taking up this role with the @ACBofficials," he wrote on Twitter. "Looking forward to imparting the best of the knowledge that I have and making it worth it for the boys."

^{Thorpe was confirmed as the new head coach on Tuesday (Dan Mullen/Getty Images)}

Confirmation of Gul's appointment comes in the same week that Thorpe, who was discarded by England following the Ashes, was installed as head coach from the end of April.

Stuart Law had been in temporary charge of the team following the departure of Lance Kluesner last November.

The men's team are next in action against Ireland in a five-match T20 series in August, as part of preparations for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Five Afghanistan players are currently playing in the Indian Premier League; Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Those remaining players have travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a training camp with local coaches.

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