Gul set for a comeback

Umar Gul, the Pakistan medium-pacer, is all set to prove his fitness for the West Indies tour after recovering from a back injury. Gul was diagnosed as having two stress fractures in his back last year, and was treated by specialists in South Africa before returning to first-class cricket.

"I've recovered completely from my back problem," Gul told The News, a Pakistan-based daily, "and I've informed the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq that I'm ready to take any fitness test to be considered for the coming tour."

However, Wasim Bari, the chief selector, appears to have jumped the gun by ruling Gul out of the selection plans on Wednesday. "Umar has not played for quite a while so we don't know anything about his match fitness," said Bari, without considering the fact that Gul was playing in the current Twenty20 Cup matches. "At at the moment he is not under consideration for selection for the West Indies tour."

But Gul insisted that he was match fit, and had already played in a couple of practice games in which he bowled 10 overs and more. He added, "Even the South African trainer Grant Compton has, in his medical and fitness report, given me permission to start bowling again."

Gul elaborated more by saying that Compton had put him through a two-month rehabilitation programme before he began bowling again. "I'm facing no back problems like in the past and I'm 100% fit," he said. "I'm ready to take any fitness test to satisfy the selectors. As it is I'll not make myself available if I was not sure about my fitness and there were chances of me breaking down again."

Gul last played a Test in April last year, when his sensational spell of 5 for 35 set up Pakistan's thumping win against India at Lahore. But he broke down after that game, and disappeared into the injury maze.

Despite the absence of several of their top bowlers - like Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed - Pakistan managed to draw the Test series in India and dominate the one-dayers. The return of that trio, though, could result in a varied and exciting bowling attack.