While his exploits in Colombo remained nothing short of exemplary, his rise to stardom – from being a socks presser in a factory to representing Pakistan – remains a fairytale journey. His father died when he was a child, forcing him to work for eight hours a day to fulfil the household needs.
Whatever time he got, he played tape-ball cricket to stay in touch with his love for the sport. This became Anwar’s routine, with frustration and desperation creeping in while he searched for a better life.
“I used to get Rs200 per day and that wasn’t enough for our family,” said Anwar. “At times, my mother couldn’t even spare Rs50 for me given the tight budget she ran the house on.”
A lucky break
Although he belonged to a troubled area of Karachi, Orangi Town, he let his dreams and life’s aim stretch far and beyond, his lucky break finally arriving when he was drafted into Zone VI’s under-19 side after impressing with the six deliveries he bowled at the trials.
“They asked me to come for regular practice but, given the situation at home, I had to do double shifts at times. On hearing this, the coaches Azam Khan and Zafar Ahmed agreed to hand me a contract worth Rs 4,600 per month. From that day, I never looked back.”
Within 15 months, consistent performances at zonal and regional levels earned him a call to the national U19 squad.
His five-wicket haul in the 2006 World Cup final landed him laurels aplenty, his bowling effort there still giving him the hope to add to his solitary international.
“I’ve saved that video on my phone. My bowling in the final has definitely been the best performance of my career. Whenever I’m down or not performing well, I watch that video to get inspiration.”
Aiming for an international comeback
Anwar went on to sign a contract with PIA, replacing his idol Umar Gul, playing out an important role for KESC, Sindh and Karachi teams over the years. His 60 First-class matches have fetched him 221 wickets as well as 1,140 runs – including a century – as he presses claims to be Abdul Razzaq’s successor to the Pakistan team.
“It’s not easy to emulate the performances of Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood but I’ve worked really hard in every aspect after Mudassar Nazar [former NCA director] told me that I have what it takes to become a top all-rounder. That, now, is my aim in life.”
As Anwar strives towards making an international comeback, he remembers the stick he got from his father who used to discourage him from playing cricket.
“It’s a waste of time, he would tell me. If he was alive now, he’d be really proud of me.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (71)
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He played for Karachi Zebras and performed well as an allrounder
Great hard work by this young man. If he is still really perofrming well, he should be given chance. But i don't know why he was dropped in the recent T20 tournament held in Rawalpindi. Karachi's selectors should have pick him up for this. Zakar Ashraf should immediately respond and this young man should be groomed. If Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat can be given chances again and again than why not Anwar Ali!
Surely he is better than cheema! Give him a chance
@Syed Karachi is not poor in fact whole Punjab is not as developed as Karachi. So please get some life and stop poisoning people with your hate.
@Syed: There are loads of players from KHI. No need to promote differences within our own country.
@ Ali please take these glasses off your eyes. You actually answered my question. Do you really think that people don't want to play cricket in Baluchistan, Interior sindh, fata or other places beside Punjab or Karachi. As far as discrimination cars is concerned, you are just want close your eyes and beleive it is not there, then good for you. Go and check every other sports and you will get the idea.
Any if, for your the sake of argument, peopel don't play cricket in Baluchistan then they could find players only from Punjab to fill the WHOLE team, they could have chosen player from other places.
@Zakir Yeah u r right Congrats anwar on fighting that hard against this world and proving ur mettle
@all of you...... Guys its a story about a person who worked hard to fulfil his dreams can't we have something in praise of the lad? Come on you all and show respect for someone's tireless efforts instead of talking about biases
@Syed: it is very painfull when people say this. I am from Lahore and its the whole contry which makes us a nation not just one city.
Where are those who blame Imran khan for not giving chance to Players from Karachi? The situation is still the same nothing has changed.
@fus
I don't think it's an issue. As of Balochistan, I think there is not good cricket infrastructure there. If you know any good bowler from Balochistan, name him here. As far Anwar Ali is concerned, his avg in first class is 27 while that of Aizaz cheema's is 20. Tell me who would you pick. Stop playing discrimination card.
@Hassan
Thanks for insulting me. this only showed your class. I myself mentioned that he is now trying outswing too. Plus check his first class average of 27 against Aizaz cheema's 20. Now tell me who would you pick ??
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/237829.html 3 guy he bowled have played for india :D
It is more than a bout Karachi or Punjab. I doubt anyone of you who accept discrimination is an issue or not, even went and checked the link. There is discrimination, period. Players from Punjab get preference, followed by Karachi/Peshawer and then rest of the country. Same is for Hockey, most players are from Punjab. Even in football, this sport is played well mostly in Lyari or Baluchistan in baloch-Pashtun areas, but do you see any football development there. Frankly and sorry it might hurt, take Karachi out of the picture then PCB appears more like become Punjab cricket board, PHF, Punjab Hockey federation and PFF would be Punjab footbal federation. No denying that Punjab is big with huge population, but you need to spend money to develop sports in interior Sind, Balochistan, Fata and KPK areas. Last time when I saw the map they were still part of Pakistan.
Again check the team composition of Baluchistan and tell me how many them from Baluchistan, not talking about Balochi, but they are no even Balochistani.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/548692.html
So accept that there is discrimination.
Mr. David What more Please acknowleged
this guy is YouTube hero,he himself put his videos on YouTube, he does not believe in performance, he believes in propaganda like YouTube videos put him in pak cricket team. perform dude stop making self praising videos
wowwww....awesome ... players like Ali are rear.. need to treat them like a diamond .
@ Syed
I feel sorry for you on writing this comment and sorry for those 54 people who have liked this. This is not a sensible comment to make. Shahid Afridi, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed and Younus Khan are all from Karachi and have been very fruitful for the national team. I have seen Anwar Ali's video and I think he is a very good bowler but not all the good bowlers can make it to playing 11. He may get a change very soon or after few years. Misbah only got a chance few years ago and before that he was only playing domestic cricket. You have to be rational here as there are alot of people who want to play for national team and it is not practical to bring 11 new players straight away.
give this lad two comp;ete series.he will perform
Why is Hammad Azam in the team he can't bowl 10 overs? He is very mediocre I think this guy Anwar Ali should be inducted into the national setup
Anwar, just keep trying, it will work out InshaAllah
He has potential to play international cricket but he needs to work hard, As he never repeated the performance that he delivered against India in World Cup final. Word Hard and Play for Pakistan.
He must be given a chance atleast!
@criclover the players you are naming are batsman now who looks a child...since our batting is a flop selectors could have gambled but with bowling pakistan has had consistent choices. Who should have they played him for saeed ajmal, shoaib akhter, shahid afridi or umar gul?
Players of karachi have always been ignored by selectors.. the downfall of Pakistan cricket team is because of the selection of players without merit.. that's reckless.. a super talented all-rounder but victim of politics as he is from karachi..
I am with Anwer Ali since Childhood......He is the one who can fill the positions of wasim, waqar and shoaib..i am not saying because he is my friend or teammate, i am saying because i knew what kind of a talent he got....few of the people in this world who r gifted by ALLAH and extreamly har working....HE IS THE ONE......whatever written about him is true.........he got little problem when he went to National Cricket Academy...they start working on his out swingers because of that it effect on his inswinger and action as well.......after so much struggle now once again he become a total package of fast bowling and as well as a handy batsmen as well.......i just pray to ALLAH once he came in the time i am damn sure he will never look Back........Luv u ANU
This brought tears in my eyes
I wanted to play cricket but had no opprtunity provided becuz my parents were not willing to allow me to become a cricketer and this guy fought against hardships of life in order to achieve his dreamssss gr888888888 lalaaaaaa
@Ali first of all u people go and watch cricket regularly. Anwar Ali has now the ability to do in and out swing both.. Super 8 T20 nhi dekha kya bhai k how he was moving the round ball I mean roundd not square ball Ali. Do u know what is ball?
Guys, Whoever is saying that he isn't getting the chance because he is from karachi and not from lahore, I don't agree with them. He has been playing domestic. You cannot judge a bowler from just one performance. There are many good bowlers in our domestic circuit who might have performed better than him. He has got only in swing, that becomes too predictable to play at international level. I saw his interview in which he said that he is now working on outswing too. I hope that he plays good and get a chance. So, stop creating differences that he is from there or bla bla !
People talk about staying united, we are one country, etc., but don't want to face the truth. You need to accept the wrongs and then work to fix it. The fact is there is discrimination, like it or not, in cricket , in hockey, govt. jobs , in everything, and it has to be addressed, otherwise contry and everyone living in it will suffer. In cricket if you are from Punjab you have a better chance in making to Cricket, or staying in it longer even if you don't perform. This does not mean that a player from Punjab will not subject to discrimination, but compared to other provinces he has a better chance. No denying we have many great cricketers from Punjab but with adhoc cricket board this issue cannot be resolved. The issue is not even of Karachi alone. Look at the current cricket facilities in Pakistan, PCB spend more money on cricket grounds and its development in Punjab, as if rest of the country does not exist. Here, go and check the players in Baluchistan team, click on each player to see the player profile, http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/548692.html
Then we complain why we have issues In Baluchistan.
Every person in Pakistan should have same rights and opportunities.
@Yasir Mehmood haha what a childish statement how can u judge someone is not good enough when he has been played just once and that too in a T20 international. Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez all were givenb dozens of matches to become good players....
aspiring report....this lad deserves another chance and on bouncy fast tracks.. where he could swing the ball wildly like he did 6 years back in Sri Lanka.....
He is not simply good enough. He is a good bowler but Pakistan has some better options
Look at his performances in the recent T20 event. He was brilliant both with the bat and ball. I think he has the guts to become our no.1 allrounder. Hammad Azam cant bowl literally so whats the point to have him?????????????????????
I guess this is normal. We always ignore our heroes.
@Pinto Look at ur words another fixer in the making wow shows your mentality. Get it right. He has worked hard to earn respect and status
For heavens sake stop this Karachi walas being victim. I should write a book about the opportunities and positions karach walas held and continue to hold and that is great since we are all Pakistanis and borthers. I dont endorse what PCB does and I would'nt care less if all of them were fired today. Look at the Pakistan team all along, it has always had great players from karachi so after all they made it. Please encourage people and find reasons to stay united rather than stoking fire of hatred.
@Syed: There are many great players from Karachi. Why make such a ridicules statement.
The story is about boy's struggle and the debate should be on that very subject. Why u people always talk about biases?
@Jenai dau: You mean Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed are actually from Chichawatni. check your facts please.
Another fixer in the making
Pakistan a country full of Talent & null with opportunities.....
Well guys there is not even one player in the current team from karachi(born)...the most populated city in pakistan..why???
@Ch Allah Daad:
Had sharif brothers been incharge of PCB then our cricket team player would ran out from cricket field when they were losing match (Like sharif brothers did when they ran out to saudi arabia)
He's actually played once in a T20 in 2008.
It was amazing performance by him in the WC under 19. But he hasnt improved from there. Having watching him play regularly for Karachi side for many years now I can only see the graph of his performance going down. Thats what happens to most of our cricketers with humble backgrounds when they get pre mature fame.
@THE: Yaar you can't compare Karach vs Son-In-law :) can you? What my point is that the favoratism may exist without ethnicity. Going by your standards, Pakistan Team should be based on all players from Sialkot Stallions, they just Beat Karachi Dolphins with a handsome margin with Shoaib Malik being the star :) Just Kidding. Cheers. As I said before we are all about Pakistan and lets stick to it.
I wonder how many cricketers would have died down before even coming to main scene because of such problems. Its a seriously inspiring story we need more of such stuff because it can really inspire our youth. The reporter have done a wonderful job by letting us know such a beautiful struggle.
@ abdul: Look at this link and then talk about this http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/232491.html
Give him the chance he ll be handy customer...... He is a good allrounder
@Abdul: 221 wickets in 60 matches...and you call it pathetic? come on...dont make yourself a laughing stock
We need a replacement of Mohammad Amir and he could be it. Selectors move your butts.
first look at his domestic record then talk about coming to National team, his domestic record is pathetic , the 2006 match's performance can't get him into national team
Great encouraging story!
Already precious years of this tall lad wasted...PCB should pick him now to groom him to next Waqar Younis... You don't need microscope to look at such talent. PCB do need magnifier as they are ignoring quality youths for years. Shame on pathetic regime who always spoil talent.
@Pakistaniat: Yes, in the long run the top talent does get through that's never been the point! The point is that everyone knows that we have had open favoritism in the pk cricket or tell me that's never been the case? Why have Farhat and Malik got so many chances of the last few years and players like Imran Nazir who have performed superbly in the recent past have been ignored? Bowlers who are completely out of form and have a suspicious chartacter like Wahab Riaz have been give a chance in key matches and guys like Anwer Ali don't even get a single chance? I am with you brother on not creating rifts among Pakistanis on the basis of provinces or cities etc but tell me with a hand on your heart that that's not the case in the current line up!
@THE: Yes - there is discrimination in pak cricket... but in the long run you have seen opportunity given to people who had no future/connections... e.g. Aamir, Moh Yousaf, danish, waseem akram.. these guys had no connections but they found their way through...
@Syed: Yar.. please dont play the sectarian card..... its comments like these which corrupt the society.. after all we are all pakistanis... a pathan or a punjabi could make the same allegations if he is not selected... so please be reasonable...
His 5 wicket haul in world cup is no doubt sensational and inspiring for every cricket lover. Still remember his performance ... Rightly called "DADDY OF SWING"
@Truth_Prevails: Tell that to the selectors who have selected Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik, the likes a million times! Don't take it personally, think about the recent team selection and then tell me if it was all about Pakistan. Please don't preach something that's not practiced, have it enforced first and then tell us it's all about Pakistan and not someone's son-in-law etc.
@Syed, please keep this hatered out of public. Everything is about Pakistan and Pakistan only.
May Allah give u success brother...
This individual is supremely talented, and could be a key asset for Pakistan side. Any reason he is not in the national team? is it corruption or are there many better than him?
Wonder why players like him and asim kamal don't get a chance. Seems to be case of nepotism and favoritism in Pakistan cricket. Merit please.
PCB is wasting this talented boy.
Arey who is this bhai?? Why is he not in Pakistani National team?
A hard-worker bowler with lots of talent. Dozens of tomes, i have watched his U19 final video and every time i prayed that he should be in our national team.
That video is truly inspiring. Hope to see him in the national team and soon!
Ignored by PCB just because he is from Karachi. I wish he was from Lahore he would have been in the team ages ago.