Hindu Cricketers of Pakistan: Full List, Career Stats & Untold Stories (2025)

Cricket is one of the most played sports in the World. Moreover, every country wants to represent itself by playing perfectly and amazingly in the World of Cricket. Among all the cricket teams, Pakistan is also a known team in the history of Cricket. Therefore, this team played its first test match in the year 1952. Meanwhile, the majority of players of the Pakistani Cricket team are Muslims. In history, we can find that some Hindu players in the Pakistan cricket team have played. In this blog, we will learn about the names of the Hindu cricketers in the Pakistan team.

List of Hindu Cricketers in Pakistan Cricket Team History

1. Anil Dalpat (1984 -1986)

He was a wicket-keeper in the Pakistan Cricket team. Moreover, he played in 9 test matches and 15 ODIs in the years 1984 to 1986.

2. Danish Kaneria (2000 - 2010)

He represented the Pakistani cricket team as a leg spin bowler. Meanwhile, he showcased their skills in 61 test matches and 18 ODIs from 2000 to 2010. He took 261 test tickets for the Pakistan Cricket team. 

Complete History of Hindu Cricketers in Pakistan

Who Is Anil Dalpat?

Anil Dalpat was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on 20th September 1693. Moreover, he was the first Hindu who play for the Pakistan Cricket team. He belonged to the cricketing family. His father was the head of the Pak Hindu Club. He started his cricket career early. Therefore, his first match was against England in March 1984. After the retirement of Wasim Bari, he joined the Pakistan team as a wicketkeeper. 

Problems Faced by Anil Dalpat in his Cricket Career

In so many interviews, Anil Dalpat showed his concern that he did not get the opportunities that he deserved. Being a Hindu cricketer from Pakistan was not easy for Anil Dalpat. Therefore, he was not able to continue his cricket career due to internal team politics. 

Role Played by Anil Dalpat for the Pakistan Cricket Team

Anil Dalpat made great records in his short cricket career. If he got a chance to play for a long time, he would create a more unbreakable record in cricket history. However, some Indian and Pakistani fans want to know who was the first Hindu cricketer in Pakistan. Anil Dalpat was the first Hindu-Pakistani cricketer. 

His Achievements

Test Batting Records - Scored 167 runs in the test match with an average of 15.18. He scored his highest runs against New Zealand, which was 52 runs. 

Test Wickets Records - He caught 13 catches as a wicketkeeper and took 3 stumps in the test match. 

ODI Batting Record - His highest score was 37 at that time. Meanwhile, he scored 87 with an average rate of 12.42.

Career History - Anil played a total of 137 matches in which he scored 2556 runs. Moreover, he took 307 catches and made 123 stumpings in his cricket career. 

Who is Danish Kaneria

Danish Kaneria is also known as the Hindu cricketer in the Pakistan team, Moreover, he was born on 16th December 1980 in Karachi. In 2000, he played his first test match against England. Therefore, Danish was the cousin of Anil Dalpat. He was the second Hindu cricketer after his cousin, who played for the Pakistan Cricket Team. He made a remarkable achievement in his cricket career. 

Problems Faced by Danish Kaneria as a Hindu Pakistani Cricketer 

Danish was criticised in the Pakistani Cricket team due to his religion. Moreover, he was not appreciated for his performance. He took 261 wickets, but the team did not give him the credit. Furthermore, Danish had been banned from cricket when he was found guilty of match-fixing by the England and Wales Cricket Board. In 2025, Danish addressed his statement that my career was destroyed because of discrimination in Washington, D.C. 

Danish Kaneria Performed Amazingly in his Career

Danish Kaneria played as a leg spinner for the Pakistan Cricket team. Meanwhile, from 2000 to 2010, he played as an outstanding player.  He played a total of 61 test matches. At that time, he was in the fourth rank as the all-time wicket takers. If he got a chance, he would perform well and make some amazing records in cricket history. 

His Achievements

Total Test Wickets - He took 261 wickets in almost 61 test matches. 

Five-Wicket Hauls in Test matches - He achieved 15 five-wicket hauls in his test career. Moreover, he also claimed 2 ten wicket-match hauls in test matches.

Best Bowling Innings - Danish took 7 wickets by giving only 77 runs when he played against Bangladesh in 2002.

ODI Career - He played 18 ODI matches in which he took 15 wickets.

Performance Against Sri Lanka - With 10 wickets in a test match against Sri Lanka, he introduced the googlies in the cricket World. 

Man of the Match Awards - Danish earned two-time Man of the Match awards due to his incredible performances. 

Most of the cricket fans support their favourite players on the basis of their performances. Unfortunately, Anil and Danish did not get the support from their team that they deserved. Maybe it could be the reason for their religion. Some Indian cricket fans did not know about them. But when you are searching for how many Hindu players are in the Pakistan cricket team, the two names at the top are Anil and Danish. 

List of Non-Muslim Cricketers in Pakistan

Some Non-Muslim cricketers played an amazing role in the history of the Pakistani cricket team. Moreover, all the non-muslim cricketers showed great talent in contributing to sports growth. Here is the list of some famous Non Muslim cricketers except Anil and Danish.

• Wallis Mathias: Christian Cricketer

• Duncan Sharpe: Anglo-Indian Christian

• Yousuf Youhana: Christian but later converted to Islam

• Antao D’Souza: Catholic Cricketer

• Arif Mehmood: Christian Cricketer

• Basil D’Oliveira: Of Gaon originCricketer

Read more:  Anil Dalpat – Former Wicketkeeper of Pakistan Cricket Team | Biography, Age, Stats & Career

Conclusion

Anil Dalpat and Danish Kaneria are the unforgettable Hindu cricketers in Pakistan. Meanwhile, they played for their team, unfortunately, they were discriminated against due to their religion and never got the credit for their performance. In the cricket world, players are always remembered for their skills and performances. However, Anil and Danish will always be remembered as the famous Hindu sportspersons in Pakistan.

FAQs

Are there any Non-Muslim cricketers in Pakistan?

In the past history of Pakistani cricket teams, there were some non-muslim cricketers who played for the Pakistan Cricket Team.

Are there any Hindu players in Pakistani cricket?

Yes, Anil Dalpat and Danish Kaneria were two Hindu players in the Pakistan cricket team.

How many Hindu players are in the Pakistan cricket team?

We found two main Hindu cricketers who played for the Pakistan cricket team in the history of world cricket. Anil played from around 1984 to 1986. Danish played from 2000 to 2010.