India''s Asia Cup triumph was expected: Gul

Published Fri, Jun 25 10 11:21 AM

Karachi, Jun 25 (PTI) Pakistan pacer Umar Gul says India''s Asia Cup title triumph is hardly a surprise as the conditions in Sri Lanka were just perfect for them to end a 15-year-old trophy drought at the event. "It didn''t surprise me even though India lost the league match to Sri Lanka. But given the conditions in Dambulla and the fact that the ball does seam around under lights, India had the better and more experienced pace attack to cope with the pressure of a high profile final and their bowlers came good," he said. "I thought Praveen Kumar set the tone for the other Indian bowlers with his new ball spell while Ashish Nehra produced a magical spell," he added Fit again after recovering from a shoulder injury, Gul said being forced out of the Twenty20 World Cup and the Asia Cup because of it were the biggest disappointments of his career. Gul, one of Pakistan''s leading bowlers, returns to international cricket with the upcoming tour of England after missing the Twenty20 World Cup and the Asia Cup due to the freak injury he sustained during a training camp set up before the World Cup in Lahore. "Missing these two major events were the biggest disappointments of my career but one has to cope with such situations. I am just glad I am fit again and back in the team," Gul told PTI in an interview. The pacer has taken 96 wickets in 26 Tests, 103 wickets in 69 one-dayers and another 43 wickets in 26 Twenty20 internationals. "But all that is history now. I have recovered completely from the shoulder problem and have started bowling again. I am 100 percent fit but it is a long tour in England and I have been advised by the PCB medical panel to take care of myself," he said. Gul said he saw the coming Twenty20 and Test series against Australia in England as a litmus test for Pakistan and himself. "We lost badly in Australia and we were again beaten in the World T20 Cup by them and this is our best opportunity to start winning against them." "Our Test series against Australia will set the tone for the rest of the English summer if we can do well against them I am sure we can also go on do well against England who are an improved side now," Gul said.

Source: Web Search