WATCH: Watson surprised by reception upon arrival in Pakistan

Australia cricketer Shane Watson was taken aback by the reception he received upon arrival in Pakistan on Saturday.

The 38-year-old was received by his Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omer at the airport.

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While speaking in a video released by PCB, Watson expressed his surprise over the reception.

“I wasn’t expecting this. Cheers, thank you,” Watson said.

Shane Watson taken aback by the reception he received upon arrival in Pakistan#Cricket #PSLVpic.twitter.com/BqsxnBKCOi

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) February 15, 2020

Quetta Gladiators champion allrounder Shane Watson reached Karachi for PSL 2020 pic.twitter.com/0uzcIWinBF

— Shahzaib Ali 🇵🇰 (@DSBcricket) February 15, 2020

Watson, the most-sought after Twenty20 (T20) cricketer, has featured in all four previous editions of the HBL PSL. His best run, however, came in the 2019 edition in which he was awarded player of the tournament and played a crucial hand in helping Quetta Gladiators secure their maiden title.

Watson was the highest run-getter in the tournament as he piled up 430 runs in 12 matches at a blistering strike rate of 143.81. The hard-hitting batsman averaged 43 – the highest amongst the top five run-getters in the edition – and cracked four half-centuries with 91 not out being his highest score.

Though he kept Quetta Gladiators fans on their feet throughout the tournament with his riveting knocks with the bat, his moment of the tournament came with the ball.

Asked to bowl the last over, his only rotation of the arm in the tournament, against Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier, with the opposition requiring 21 and a destructive pair of Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy on strike, Watson bowled Pollard to seal a berth in the final for his side.