Gul slams Vettori, says art of reverse swing is God gifted

Peshawar, June 24: Pakistan speedster Umar Gul has said that reverse swing is an ‘art’ and critised the foreign teams, who had levelled ball tampering charges on their Asian counterparts.

Gul said western teams lacked skill and ability to reverse swing the cricket ball, and that is why they always accused Asian fast bowlers of foulplay.

“Whenever an Asian bowler performs and uses the reverse swing the western cricketing countries raise the issue of ball tampering against them,” said Gul.

He termed the allegations made by New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, as ‘baseless’, and said that he had developed the ‘art’ of reverse swing through immense practice.

“I think the art of reverse swing is also God gifted which can be improved through practice. I watched Wasim Akram and Waqar’s bowling videos and developed this art through repeated practice,” The News quoted Gul, as saying.

Gul, who is the leading wicket taker in the Twenty20 format of the game, said he did not expect the rousing welcome that the team received after they came back home with the ICC World Twenty20 Championship trophy.

Commenting on the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, where Pakistan has to play a three match Test series and a five match one-day international series, Gul said players would need time to switch to the five-day mode of the game, but expressed hope that Pakistan would carry on their form in the series.

“Though Test cricket is totally a different ball game and the team will take some time to adjust itself with Sri Lankan conditions but we will try to adjust with the conditions very soon and will hopefully perform well,” he said.