Umar Gul ties the knot

PESHAWAR: Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul hosted a grand reception for his family and friends in Peshawar on Sunday to celebrate his marriage.

Gul tied the knot Saturday in a colourful ceremony that was marked by fireworks and bhangra dance performed by his friends. His wife is a doctor and currently works in Dubai.

"I have known her for a while and my family has consented to my liking," he said, adding "the honeymoon will be dovetailed with the forthcoming cricket tour to New Zealand.”

"I am quite happy and she is certainly going to accompany me in away tours now," he said.

Test batsman Yasir Hameed, a close friend of Gul, quipped that "the performance of Gul is likely to improve after his marriage.”

Several current and former cricket players also attended the ceremony in Peshawar, where a street has also been named after him to acknowledge his role in the team's Twenty20 world cup victory.

Gul, hailing from a Pakhtun family, has made a permanent place in the team and is the spearhead of the pace attack in the absence of Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir.

Gul belongs to the small village of Nawan Kili on the outskirts of Peshawar which was earlier famous for producing squash champions. Legendry squash players Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan belong to the same village.