Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul retired from all forms of professional cricket on Friday (October 16). The right-arm quick made his decision after his team Balochistan were eliminated from the National T20 Cup.
The 36-year-old represented his country in 47 Tests and took 163 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls. In ODIs, Gul's 128 innings brought him 179 scalps at an average of 29.34 while going at 5.19 runs per over.
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But it was in the T20Is that Gul shined the brightest for Pakistan, being a four-over bank at a time when variations weren't the norm and yorkers the only escape out at the death in the game's slam-bang version.
Taking 85 wickets in 60 games at an economy rate of 7.19, Gul was absolute key to Pakistan's run to the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa and also when they lifted the coveted trophy two years later in England.
Gul left a lasting impression among those who watched him hustling through his run-up and nailing those toe-crushing yorkers, which was reflected in the outpour of emotion from his ex-teammates upon learning of his decision to say goodbye.
Here's how they all reacted to his call, wishing him well for the second innings in life through their tweets:
