Umar Gul named as Afghanistan bowling coach

Gul has been appointed ahead of Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe

Former Pakistan seamer Umar Gul is Afghanistan's new bowling coach.

He was previously working for the national team on a consultancy basis, last month helping to oversee a training camp in the UAE ahead of Afghanistan's upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe.

"Considering his effectiveness in the camp as well as based on the need, it was decided to offer him a permanent contract as the national team's bowling coach," the country's governing body said in a statement.

At the same camp, Younis Khan – Gul's former international teammate – was present as a batting coach.

^{Afghanistan will face Zimbabwe in three ODIs and three T20Is (Munir Uz Zaman/AFP via Getty Images)}

Gul retired from cricket in 2020, having taken 427 international wickets for Pakistan in 237 appearances across all formats.

Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe, who were recently beaten in a five-match series by Namibia, begins at the start of June, with three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled between June 4 and June 14.

Early-season availability for the T20 Blast has been impacted by the tour, with spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman only due to join up with Sussex and Middlesex – their respective counties – at the conclusion of the trip.