On a pleasant June evening at The Oval in 2009, cricket fans at the iconic London ground and around the world witnessed what remains one of the best bowling performances in the history of Twenty20 Internationals.

Looking literally unplayable, Umar Gul bowled a series of lethal yorkers to take five wickets for just six runs in three overs in an ICC World Twenty20 championship encounter against New Zealand. The Black Caps were at one stage placed at 54-3 in 9.2 overs but Gul’s fiery spell helped Pakistan bowl them out for 99 in 18.3 overs.

At that time Gul was in his mid twenties and was at the peak of his game. He was one of the reasons why Pakistan went on to win the World T20 crown in England that year.

But fast forward the clock to present day. Gul is still just 32 but national selectors believe that the fast bowler, once regarded as a vital cog in the Pakistan line-up across all formats – is not good enough for the team any more.

But Gul doesn’t agree. In fact the otherwise mild-mannered player is furious over the fact that the selectors continue to overlook him and didn’t even think about giving him a chance for Pakistan’s challenging tour of England.

"Usually, it’s not in my nature to speak out my mind. But when people start rating me as a discard then it hurts a lot. I have had fair share of injuries during my long international career. Just tell which fast bowler doesn’t get injured? This is part and parcel of cricket," Gul said in an interview.

"However, some people [in the cricket board] make you a fool by jumping to the conclusion that so and so individual’s playing career at the international level is over. And what is more annoying is that when you confront them they’ll act as if nothing has happened and will try to be as supportive as they can but the same people will form different opinion behind your back."

Gul is of the view that he was full fit aheady of the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand but was still snubbed by the selectors.

"I was aghast when I found out that the parameter for fitness for the 2015 World Cup was set at 60 points. And yet I was not good enough to be considered [for selection] despite recording 62 points. Somebody in the PCB must be honest enough to explain this double-standard policy.

"Now I realize that sometime just being fit is not enough to be inducted because the trust is not there. Being the senior-most fast bowler, there was no way they [selectors] could have sidelined me the way they did. They were not willing to trust me as a player. In the last season I had rediscovered my rhythm and felt extremely fit to reclaim my Pakistan spot, but the selectors still chose to ignore me."

Gul’s outburst is understandable but the thing is that the pacer has certainly lost his sting because of all the fitness issues he had to deal with. If he still wants to play for Pakistan, then Gul will have to somehow regain his golden form otherwise it would be difficult for him to regain his place in the Pakistan team.