There were only 7 non-Muslim cricketers in cricket history, who represented the Pakistani team at the international level. One name in this was Walis Mathias. Mathias was the first non-Muslim cricketer to play for Pakistan. In 1935, on the day of today (4 February), Mathias was born in a Christian family in Karachi.
Brilliant innings on debut, slip fielder of slip
Wallis Mathias was fond of cricket since childhood. At the school level, he performed brilliantly for the famous St. Patrick High School in Karachi. Mathias were so talented that he made his Test debut in Dhaka in November 1955 at the age of just 20 years. On his debut against New Zealand, Mathias impressed with the bat and scored an unbeaten 41 runs in Pakistan’s first innings.
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It was expected that Wallis Mathias would do well and do well, but he could not redeem the opportunities in international cricket. The international career of Mathias lasted only for seven years (1955–62). His memorable performance in Tests was on the West Indies tour in 1958, where he scored 73 and 77 runs respectively in two consecutive matches.
Wallis could not succeed as successful in Mathius batting, but he made headlines with his fielding. He often fielded in slip and took some amazing catch during his career. Mathias were counted among the finest slip fielders of that era. Then the Pakistani pace attack used to be great, in such a situation, fielding on slip position was not easy. But Mathias had extraordinary awareness and also made difficult occasions easy.
The skill of the fast bowlers is often in the headlines, but in the slip cordon, the anonymous hero plays an important role in changing the attitude of the match. Walis Mathias always showed this by doing so. Pakistan’s first wicketkeeper Imtiaz Ahmed also did not get tired of praising Mathias. Imtiaz had taken him and said, ‘Walis was the first good slip fielder in Pakistan, who changed the atmosphere in slip cordon.’
This was Mathius’ cricketing record
Walis Mathias launched 130 catches in his first class career, in which 22 catches came in Test matches. In 1963, he suffered a finger injury during net practice. Due to this, there was some distortion in his finger and his catching skill was affected. However, he continued to play in domestic cricket and scored an unbeaten 278 for Karachi in 1965-66, which was his best score in first class cricket.
Middle order batsman Wallis Mathias’s Test figures do not do justice to his talent. Mathius played 21 Test matches for Pakistan, in which he scored 783 runs from 23.72 average. During this, 3 half -centuries came out of his bat. Right -handed batter Mathius was the best score in Test 77 runs. If seen, the first class career of Mathias was fantastic. Mathias scored 7520 runs in 146 first class matches at an average of 44.49. During this time, 16 centuries and 41 half -centuries came out of his bat.
Wallis Mathias also took 13 wickets in first class cricket. Mathias also played 1 List-e-match in which he scored 51 runs. Mathias played for Karachi, Sindh and National Bank of Pakistan at domestic level. He also became the first captain of the National Bank of Pakistan in 1969-70. Mathias continued to play first class cricket till the 1976-77 season.
Former Pakistan player and administrator Colonel Shujauddin Butt had said about Walis Mathias, ‘Wallis was a very cute person. A prince among the players, I have never seen them speaking a word in anger. He was very honest and true. Wallis was probably the only gentle person of Pakistan cricket.
After retirement, Wallis Mathias also played the role of coach, selector and manager in Pakistan cricket. Valis Mathias died on 1 September 1994 at the age of 59. Due to brain haemorrhage, Mathias said goodbye to the world before time.
These non-Muslim cricketers also represented Pakistan
1. Duncan Albert Sharp:Anglo-Indian Duncan Sharp played three Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 134 runs at an average of 22.33. However, Duncan’s first class was a bit good. Duncan scored 1531 runs in 37 first -class matches at an average of 27.33, including two centuries.
2. Antao D’Souza: D’Souza, born in Goa, participated in six Test matches for Pakistan. During this, he scored 76 runs at an average of 38 and also took 17 wickets. The special thing is that D’Souza’s batting average was more than his highest score (23 not out).
3. Sohail Fazal: The cricketer, who believed in Christianity, played two ODIs for the Pakistan team, in which a total of 56 runs are recorded in his name. Fazal played the second and last ODI against India in Sharjah. In that match, he had helped Pakistan to score a big score by putting three skyscrapers.
4. Joseph Yohana (Now Mohammad Yusuf): Mohammad Yusuf, who was called one of the finest batsmen of Pakistan cricket, was first known as Yusuf Yohana. Yusuf gave 7530 and 288 ODIs in 90 Test matches Scored 9720 runs in international. Yusuf’s bat scored 39 centuries and 97 half -centuries in international cricket. In the year 2005, he converted to Islam.
5. Anil Dalpat: Wicketkeeper batsman Anil Dalpat played a total of 9 Tests and 15 ODIs for Pakistan. Anil scored 167 runs in Test cricket at an average of 15.18, which included a half -century. At the same time, he could score only 87 runs in ODI International. In Test matches, Dalpat hunted 25 victims behind the wicket, while 15 victims are registered in his name in ODI International. Anil Dalpat is the first Hindu cricketer to play for Pakistan.
6. Danish Kaneria: Danish is the most wicket -taking Pakistani spinner in Kaneria Test cricket. This leg-spinner took 261 wickets in a total of 61 Tests for Pakistan. Kaneria also represented Pakistan in 8 ODIs, with 15 wickets in his name. Danish is the second and last Hindu cricketer to play for Pakistan.