Gul has not been given enough time to get match fit: Waqar Younis

Waqar said he would not have selected Gul for the test matches as it takes fast bowlers longer to get fit.

KARACHI: Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis said on Saturday that paceman Umar Gul should have been given more time to regain full fitness following knee surgery rather than being rushed back into test action against Sri Lanka.

"I don't think Umar should be playing in the test series, he is not ready as yet for the longer version of the sport," Waqar said in a TV interview.

"I am afraid for him because I think he needs more time and he should have played more domestic cricket before being pushed back into test cricket."

The 29-year-old Gul underwent knee surgery in Melbourne in May after getting injured during Pakistan's tour to South Africa.

Gul, who is the most experienced fast bowler in the Pakistan team after taking 163 test, 168 one-day wickets, was recalled for the last three one-dayers and the three-match test series against Sri Lanka.

Waqar said he would not have selected Gul for the test matches as it takes fast bowlers more time to get fit following knee surgery.

"I would like to see him being sent back to Pakistan and playing in more domestic first class matches to regain complete match fitness."

Gul added bite to a struggling pace attack against Sri Lanka in the recently concluded ODI series in UAE. The three ODI's that Gul played, he bowled 20.3 overs picking up seven wickets. He returned with figures of three wickets for 19 runs off 5.4 overs, three wickets for 37 years off seven overs, and one wickets for 44 runs off 7.5 overs.

The first test begins in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.