Shaiman Anwar thought his chances of playing in an international league were over before being selected in Global T20 Canada.
Like many of his international team-mates, Anwar, 39, has often been overlooked for the major competitions despite scoring more than 700 runs in 26 matches of the shortest format.
But he was finally rewarded when the veteran was drafted by Edmonton Royals as their 11th pick in Sunday’s auction.
Anwar first heard that he was selected during his visit of Pakistan and while he could not believe it first initially, he was thrilled to have finally got his breakthrough.
“I was surprised for sure,” he said. “One of my friends called me and told me that I was selected in the new T20 league in Canada and I really didn’t believe it. But I then looked on the internet and it was true. I was really surprised because I thought my chances of playing in a big T20 league was over especially when I am nearly 40. But it’s fantastic news for me.”
Anwar will be joining fellow UAE team-mate Ahmed Raza in the squad which also features ex-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, T20 blistering batsman Chris Lynn and New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi.
And Anwar, who hails from Sialkot, says he cannot wait to train on a daily basis with Afridi.
“Everyone in the world knows that he’s a famous player. He is a Pakistan legend and especially in the T20 he’s an exceptional player,” he said.