Umar Gul bids farewell to all forms of cricket

Former Pakistani pacer Umar Gul played his last game as a professional cricketer Friday night, marking the end of an era which saw him spearhead Pakistan cricket team's pace attack and bamboozle batsmen around the world with his lethal yorkers.

The bowler retired after his side, Balochistan, was eliminated from the ongoing National T20 Cup by the Shan Masood-led Southern Punjab, reports Geo TV.

Gul, who was a key member of the team that won the T20 World Cup for Pakistan in 2009 in England, retired with 427 international wickets to his name. He has played 47 Tests, 130 ODIS and 60 T20s for Pakistan.

A teary-eyed Gul thanked his teammates and the Southern Punjab side for giving him “respect” in his last game. He also thanked the PCB for “feeding him like a mother” throughout his career.

Taking to Twitter after his last game, the right-arm pace said the decision has come with a "very heavy heart and after a lot of thinking".

"I have decided to bid farewell to all formats of cricket after this National T20 Cup. I have always played for Pakistan with all my heart and 100% of hardwork. Cricket is and will always be my love n passion," said Gul in a series of Tweets. 

Gul said "all good things have to come to an end" and prayed that the "future will hold much more" for him.

The retirement also led many to praise the cricketer on social media, including current and former cricketers, to thank Gul for his services to Pakistan cricket.