Anil Dalpat Sonavaria (born 20 September 1963) is the first

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

ever to play

Test cricket Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last fo ...

for Pakistan. After retirement from cricket, he migrated to Canada with his family where he started a business. Dalpat was a lower-order batsman and wicket keeper, and represented Pakistan for a brief interval in the early 1980s, when

Wasim Bari Wasim Bari ( ur, ; born 23 March 1948) is a former Pakistani international cricketer who played in 81 Test matches and 51 One Day Internationals from 1967 to 1984. Bari was a wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman. At the end of his 17-year c ...

was injured. Dalpat has had a wider first-class cricket experience and career, and is the cousin of

Danish Kaneria Danish Parabha Shankar Kaneria ( ur, ; ), (born 16 December 1980) is a Pakistani former cricketer who played for the Pakistan national cricket team between 2000 and 2010. A right-arm leg spinner known for his well-disguised googly. He is fourth ...

, Pakistan's first-choice spin bowler and only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan. He lives in the metropolis of

Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...

, and is of

Rajasthani Rajasthani may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Rajasthan, a state of India * Rajasthani languages, a group of languages spoken there * Rajasthani people, the native inhabitants of the region * Rajasthani architecture * Rajasthani art ...

heritage. The first Hindu to play Test cricket for Pakistan, Anil Dalpat was one of several wicketkeepers given a chance after the retirement of Wasim Bari.

Career

On his debut, against England at Karachi in 1983–84, Dalpat kept well to the spin of Abdul Qadir as Pakistan won by three wickets. In his nine Tests, he made 25 dismissals and a highest score of 52 against New Zealand at Karachi in 1984–85. Dalpat is the first cousin of Danish Kaneria, who made his Test debut for Pakistan in the 2000–01 series against England. In 1983–84 Dalpat dismissed 67 batsmen, a Pakistan domestic record.

References

1963 births Living people Pakistan One Day International cricketers Pakistan Test cricketers Karachi cricketers Pakistan International Airlines cricketers Pakistani Hindus Pakistani cricketers Cricketers from Karachi Pakistan International Airlines B cricketers Karachi Blues cricketers Karachi Whites cricketers Pakistani people of Rajasthani descent Pakistani emigrants to Canada Wicket-keepers {{Pakistan-cricket-bio-1960s-stub