Umar Gul is a rare breed in Pak cricket: hes consistent

It only seemed inevitable when the players ran for cover mid-way through the Zimbabwean innings.

The day had had a melancholy feel from the start as dark clouds rested over the mountains that surround the Pallekele Stadium. It only seemed inevitable when the players ran for cover mid-way through the Zimbabwean innings. And the persistent rains ensured that they stayed off the field for almost two hours. It was then that the sun dramatically broke through the gloomy skies on Monday,illuminating the grass-bank on one side of the ground.

As the teams raced back onto the field,it wasnt surprising that skipper Shahid Afridi threw the ball almost immediately to Umar Gul. The pacer from Peshawar,after all,has been a shining light and has gleamed brightly despite the murky atmosphere of Pakistan cricket over the last few years.

Gul has been the one sincere student in a classroom of misfits. The one guy whose performance the coach doesnt have to break his head over neither during practice nor while he is donning Pakistans colours and pushing his gangly self towards the bowling crease. He often keeps to himself during practice,and never shies away from putting in the hard yards.

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Through Pakistans controversy-ridden tournament,the 26-year-old Gul has gone about his work almost discreetly,and has been the most influential bowler alongside his skipper. For the umpteenth time,it was Guls incisive spell of 3/36,with wickets either side of the rain-break,that set the game up for his team,before Asad Shafiq anchored a comfortable chase.

Since he made his debut seven years ago,Gul has seen a number of his pace colleagues either fall by the wayside or suffer regular disruptions in their careers. He will be the first to acknowledge that he isnt as talented as Mohd Asif and Mohd Amir,Gul is a rare breed in Pakistan cricket: he is consistent. And though he rarely hogs the limelight,its almost as if he prefers it that way.

Though not as quick as Akhtar,he makes up for it with his canny use of the seam and his wrists while getting disconcerting bounce off any wicket. While he has become better at moving the new ball,Gul is easily one of the best exponents of bowling yorkers at the death. His biggest strength though has been his accuracy.

It took Gul only five balls before he produced his most under-rated weapon,the inswinger that darts in just that little bit more than what the batsman anticipates,while also lifting slightly from a good length. Opener Regis Chakabva,like many batsmen before him,was caught in his crease as the ball thundered into his pads.

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The out-swinger,meanwhile,accounted for Vusi Sibanda,catching the splice of his bat and carrying to Younis Khan at first slip,while a sharp bouncer saw off Prosper Utseya.

The Pakistanis had something else to cheer in the gloomy conditions. Two catches came Kamran Akmals way and he held on to both,including the top edge off Utseyas bat,which forced the wicket-keeper to run a few strides before hanging on.

And yet again,as a result of Akmals brief emergence into sureness behind the stumps,the focus was taken off Gul,despite his Man of the Match display in Pakistans fourth win of the tournament.