Anwar to be rewarded for outstanding show in SL

E-Paper | March 13, 2026

KARACHI: While congratulating Pakistan for completing a treble on their triumphant tour of Sri Lanka which ended on Saturday with a sensational one-wicket in the final T20 International, prominent cricket organiser Nadeem Omar has announced a cash award of Rs500,000 for young all-rounder Anwar Ali.

Nadeem, director of Omar Associates and president of Pakistan Cricket Club, said on Sunday that Anwar deserved to be rewarded for his outstanding 17-ball knock of 46 that helped Shahid Afridi’s side clinch the two-match series 2-0.

Anwar is a product of Karachi-based Pakistan CC, rated as the top club side in the country, and appears for them whenever he is available.

“We are planning to hold a grand function in a few days to honour Anwar who has now developed as a fine all-round cricketer,” Nadeem said. “I believe this lad has a very bright future in international cricket and will definitely continue to do Pakistan proud.”

Secretary of Pakistan CC Azam Khan along with KCCA Zone-VI president Zia Ahmed Siddiqui, Zafar Ahmed, Falak Sher, Ejaz Khan, Ejaz Ahmed and Nasrullah Khan also congratulated Anwar.

Our Staff Reporter adds: All-rounder Anwar Ali, hero of Pakistan’s remarkable victory in the series-clinching second Twenty20 International has been promoted by his employers PIA to the next pay group, according to a media release issued on Sunday.

The PIA is supportive of all sports, especially cricket, and has produced outstanding players like Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed, says the press release.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

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Hashim

Aug 03, 2015 11:36am

PIA is a liability to this nation tax payers. PIA is not rewarding them actually its us whose hard earned tax money will be spent on his perks. Period.

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Kabir

Aug 03, 2015 11:55am

@Hashim Totally agreed!!!! it's just performance in one match and he is already paid.

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An Ordinary Guy

Aug 03, 2015 12:00pm

PIA better save it self and become self sufficient! that would be more important!

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Yaseen

Aug 03, 2015 12:16pm

I saw Anwar Ali bowling highlights in U19 world cup against India 9 years back. It was extraordinary bowling and his unplayable in-swing deliveries could easily compare with IK when he was at his best. But it is very painful when I think what was the reason he was not opted in Pakistan squad after such a destructive display in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup final against India. In past we could have seen such an amazing performances from Anwar Ali but we should thanks to our politicized selection team who had hide this talent and took 7 to 8 years to introduced him in team.

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Radiant

Aug 03, 2015 12:19pm

this guy is coming from slums and deserved to be paid for the only sport where we are expected to perform..

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saj

Aug 03, 2015 12:20pm

@Yaseen . The way Anwar bowled in the U19 was indeed brilliant but the action was very wrong and if he had continued that way he would have had a short future. The action has been remodelled- hence the reason he does not do big inswingers anymore.

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teen

Aug 03, 2015 12:53pm

Hopefully he will not be in IPL but will work in PSL.

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KaKa

Aug 03, 2015 01:19pm

Enough of Cricket...and lets do something for our drawing hockey team. Where is our PM and Sports Ministry on this crisis moment

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Irfan

Aug 03, 2015 03:35pm

This is how we spoil their minds. We start believing too early and eventually this lead to their disasters.

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Zafar Ahmed

Aug 03, 2015 03:39pm

@Yaseen Salute to WY & PCB for keeping him away for a such long time , same was the case with M.Irfan for playing late for Pakistan. We need to watch WY and he may sideline him too as he did with Sarfaraz . How Azher Ali was made captain is another story , though his performance is batsman is excellent . Just look the mess as Azher Ali was not selected World cup ODI but with a U turn they made him captain !

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Rabbit

Aug 03, 2015 03:40pm

@saj that was just an assumption, bowling action is remodeled with a biomechanical expert. Brett lee had a different bowling action in 1997, google it. But he got stress fractures and his action was changed. But it was not changed by some ordinary bowling coach. Experts changed his style. Patison's action was changed and he did not lose his venom. It was pcb's nca experts who were not qualified and they changed his action. Thus ruined his career. The guy who asked him to change his action was Aqib Javed btw

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Haider Rehman

Aug 03, 2015 04:19pm

He's getting married.

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Naveed,USA

Aug 03, 2015 05:47pm

@Yaseen Pl ck record Anwar has been given many chances over the years but he hardly performed and at U-19 level players mind set is different, he not that talented to be inducted in the team immediately. His bowling is still not up to international standards,he gives away many runs and on the basis of one performance you can not take to the heights,he will have to be a consistent performer with bat especially as well as he will to improve his bowling.I am not comparing him with IK,Botham,Hadlee,K.Dev but he must be at least like A.Razak.

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Naveed,USA

Aug 03, 2015 05:51pm

@Rabbit We are very good at criticism only.

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Naveed,USA

Aug 03, 2015 05:56pm

@Zafar Ahmed Salute to those guys who only think negatively,Anwar Ali was given many chances,he did not perform before and on the basis of his one performance you can not praise him to the skies.His bowling is mediocre, he gives away too many runs while he should be economical,he will have to be a consistent performer to be considered as a reliable all rounder.

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Amar

Aug 03, 2015 06:39pm

Nice to see Pakistan winning, and groups and people like Nadeem Omar and others are coming out and appreciating what new talented cricketers are doing. Job well done by Anwar Ali, and other members of Pakistan team. We need more talented people like him, hope this is just the beginning. Good Luck

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sheikh

Aug 03, 2015 06:39pm

Good to see players rewarded.......

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neo

Aug 03, 2015 06:58pm

Anwar Ali, brings much energy to this tired Pak limited overs/t20 teams'. He's top in the field and now proved with the bat - even more so his temperament in dire situations. I would say the bowling has glimpses of talent, particularly the use of slower balls which is required on the Asian tracks...... The bigger loss from the U19 WC was Jamshed Ahmed, a leftie with great control.... never heard anything about him since!

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Doniya

Aug 03, 2015 07:08pm

About time they recognize this gem

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Bill Gates

Aug 03, 2015 07:32pm

@Yaseen simply Anwar Ali is not from Punjab or NWFP. Look at the Team. Did you see Sarfraz Ahmed Playing the T20??? Even though he is one of the Best Middle Order Batsmen. But again he's from Karachi too..It's hurt to see a lot of Talent wasted cause of the Region some players are from.. Cricket Selection Group are always promoting players from Punjab and NWFP Side. Karachi or you say Sindh always stay behind

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anthony

Aug 03, 2015 07:59pm

Great prospect....Cheers to Pakistan for winning in Sri Lanka.

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M Akram

Aug 03, 2015 08:04pm

It is about time that our sportsman who help to raise respect for Pakistan and show up Pakistan name in good lights are handsomely rewarded.

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Asif Ali

Aug 03, 2015 08:13pm

Omar Associates is doing great job for progress of cricket in Pakistan.we congratulate them for refining Anwar Ali to one of the finest alrounder of Pakistan. I also congratulate Nedeem Omer for his dedication and Hard work to help Pakistan cricket.

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Abbas Ali

Aug 03, 2015 08:25pm

Please tell me, why Shoaib Malik, Hafeez are selected. I am not talking about, once in blue moon performance. After playing for so many years, look at their overall record. It is because of them deserving players are kept outside.

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saeeds

Aug 03, 2015 09:10pm

Good work Mr Omar. Private Sponsor excatly what we need in our country. I hope other private companies follow your wisdom

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Blue Saffron

Aug 03, 2015 09:25pm

I dont know much about this guy Nadeem Omar but I am starting to like what he is doing about cricket in Pakistan. Keep it up Nadeem! Please tell us how we can help and contribute also.

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LOUDSPEAKER

Aug 03, 2015 09:42pm

He certainly deserve much more. What a fine cricketer he is. Looks like Shoeb Akhter, bats like Afridi this youngster is capable of doing wonders in the field.

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Hindutavi Rakshas

Aug 03, 2015 10:28pm

PIA a dead horse, trying to revive it's bad reputation of performance in this way instead of obtaining their former glory

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Faisal

Aug 03, 2015 10:59pm

Don't get too excited PCB is good at dumping players.

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lailie

Aug 03, 2015 11:01pm

He should've been in national team after a superb under 19 final profomance like almost 8 years ago sadly he got ignored for 5 years.. we've got talent but ago ll getting wasted thanks PCB

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Rabbit

Aug 03, 2015 11:11pm

@Blue Saffron One way to contribute is to back Pakistan's best fast bowler in domestic cricket for like 3 years, ie Sadaf Hussain. Was twice the man of the match in Pakistan A matches. Then he was mysteriously removed from Pakistan A, after that he was not selected for bangladesh tour, it was said that he was not fit enough, which was a lie. Rumors were spread that he was so unfit that he fell unconscious during his fitness test. Thanks

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Asif Ali

Aug 03, 2015 11:29pm

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Shahid Akbar, USA

Aug 04, 2015 12:26am

Very nice gesture by Nadeem Omar. Anwar was incredible in Sri Lanka.

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anony

Aug 04, 2015 01:13am

An excellent gesture. Congrats Anwar Ali and the team.

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Anwar

Aug 04, 2015 01:45am

@kaka very right cricket is not the right game to judge a sportsman. Field hockey is one of the best sports in this world.

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JYD

Aug 04, 2015 02:03am

@Kabir @Hashim; please read it aging it not PIA is paying him, it is Nadeem, director of Omar Associates, is paying him the money. PIA just promote him to the next pay scale. Every worker in an organization deserve promotion on his/her performance.

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Yawar

Aug 04, 2015 02:12am

Well done Anwar Ali. You are a fighter with a big heart. Stay focused on cricket and do not get overconfident.

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Adi

Aug 04, 2015 05:49am

this is really good, i think in every city business people should raised funds to support sports and choose one player in the team at the end of every tour or game and offer them some financial benefits

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GREEN JAGUAR

Aug 04, 2015 05:58am

Anwar Ali did some magnificent batting and bowling in this last Pakistan v Sri Lanka T20. He has certainly earned this prize money, and hopefully will remember to stay humble, honest and dedicated to Pakistan cricket as he climbs the path to cricket success. What I find most disturbing is why no one from PCB welcomed Anwar Ali and Sarfaraz Ahmed upon their arrival at Karachi airport? Is the PCB that callous? Truly shameful on part of PCB management who take massive salaries yet don't have the decency to welcome home star cricketers after so many months away from home and family.

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Sargodha

Aug 04, 2015 06:01am

Hope PIA will not go sahara way.Let chinese run the PIA, and see the change.Anwar Ali gets so much money for his tail end heroics.Remember Bhatti ,he has been dropped after heroism.In justice.

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Riaz54

Aug 04, 2015 06:16am

If nothing else, I like his attitude! His cricket will improve against stronger teams. Having the right attitude is half the battle. Well done the sponsor for rewarding Anwar...we need more people like you to promote good performance for the country.

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Aug 04, 2015 06:24am

@Bill Gates I completely agree with you. So where are our representatives in provincial and federal ministries to raise such issue and work for it or lobby for it. Take an example of IK, how has he been working forcefully for improvement of election process in Pakistan against all odds. Why not they (PPP and MQM) raises such issues at right forums. The problem is not with other provinces, they are doing what they shall do since Sindh representatives are sleeping! We need people at local and provincial levels who works for us. In other provinces it may partly be the case. In Sindh and Karachi, unfortunately, its not the case.

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Aug 04, 2015 06:28am

@Abbas Ali agreed not because of them. because we do not have a fair selection process. Who will raise the voice against it. Media is doing its due role I think. I would suggest every province shall fight for its right for every individual and for every rupee. Unfortunately, Sindh is governed the worst over many years and when it comes to issues like these, we do not find any support for it from our representatives in provincial and federal assemblies. We need to elect people who can work for us and not for themselves.

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usman

Aug 04, 2015 09:44am

That is an excellent step, this would really boost his confidence, and there some moments in sportsmen history which changes his entire course of career, i hope that knock would prove to be the career building knock, because sometimes only 1 knock changes your approach given you confidence and make a proper all-rounder from just a bowler, so its for him to capitalize his potential, Good Luck

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M. Saeed Awan

Aug 04, 2015 09:55am

Just ponder on: First, it was casual performance by Anwer Ali. We must consider his poor bowling as well. Secondly, it wasn't match against |India or World cup semi-final that we need to celebrate at high level. Thirdly, what would PIA do if he shows quite poor performance in next matches?

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Asad

Aug 04, 2015 10:36am

@Kabir - its a good initiative to reward youngsters. Such appreciation will deter future cricketers to resort to illegal means of earning quick money. Also, 500k in today's world is a small amount. But it should be recognised that this Pakistan's tax payers money and not PIA.

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Chewnti Himat

Aug 05, 2015 07:05am

He used to bowel in an anti-clockwise arc when his arm came down this created a twisting motion which would have damaged his knees as they would have twisted in the follow through Aquib Javed was astute enough to correct this flaw and hence saving his career at 27 he is at the peak of his career he will end up serving Pakistan very well in the future to come.

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