Shaiman Anwar Butt is a former professional cricket player from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) known for his elegant batting style and remarkable performances in international cricket. Despite his undeniable talent and potential to become one of the greatest batsmen in Associate cricket, his career was marred by a guilty verdict and an eight-year ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in March 2021, effectively ending his cricketing journey at the age of 42.
Born in Pakistan, Anwar started his cricketing career playing first-class cricket for his hometown team, Sialkot. However, he made the decision to migrate to the UAE in 2007 after receiving an offer to play corporate cricket. He fulfilled the ICC eligibility requirements, completing a four-year residency period, and earned his national team cap in December 2010 during a match against Namibia.
Anwar quickly made an impact in the UAE’s lineup, showcasing his exceptional skills as a middle-order batsman. In just his third match, he scored an impressive 123 runs off 118 balls against Papua New Guinea. This outstanding innings solidified his place in the team for the rest of the decade, forming a formidable middle-order partnership with captain Khurram Khan.
During the 2011-2013 ICC World Cricket League Championship, which served as a qualifying pathway for the 2015 World Cup, Anwar finished at the top of the run charts, solidifying his status as one of the best batsmen in the Associate world. He amassed 625 runs in 14 matches, with an impressive average of 52.08, surpassing renowned names such as Kyle Coetzer, William Porterfield, Ed Joyce, and Mohammad Nabi.
Anwar reached the pinnacle of his career during the 2015 World Cup, where he demonstrated his exceptional batting capabilities even at the highest level. He scored a total of 311 runs at an average of 51.83 in the tournament. In his first four innings, he achieved three half-centuries against Zimbabwe and Pakistan, as well as a thrilling century against Ireland. Unfortunately, despite his remarkable performances, UAE did not register a win in the tournament.
He continued to be a consistent contributor to the UAE cricket team over the next four years and was among the first eight players to receive a UAE central contract in 2016. This allowed him to dedicate himself full-time to cricket, further enhancing his skills and making valuable contributions to the team. Anwar also held the record for the most List A runs and T20I runs for the UAE.
However, his career took a tragic turn when he was provisionally suspended by the ICC in October 2019, just days before he was set to participate in the T20 World Cup Qualifier. After being found guilty of violating the ICC’s anti-corruption code, Anwar received an eight-year ban for failing to disclose details of a corrupt approach and for contriving to influence the result of matches during the qualifier. This tarnished his reputation and overshadowed his numerous achievements on the cricket field.
Despite the unfortunate end to his cricketing career, Anwar will be remembered as a stylish and talented batsman who had the potential to achieve greatness in the game. His elegant footwork, effortless timing, and consistent performances made him a role model for aspiring cricketers in the UAE and beyond. As he embarks on a new chapter in life, cricket fans will cherish the memories of his remarkable innings and hope that his story serves as a cautionary tale for maintaining integrity and sportsmanship in cricket.
