Wallis Mathias

Who was Wallis Mathias?

Wallis Mathias was a Pakistani cricketer who played in 21 Tests from 1955 to 1962. A Christian, he was the first non-Muslim cricketer to play for Pakistan.

Mathias was a right-handed middle order batsman and also a gifted slip fielder. He made three half centuries in his Test career, all of them against the West Indies.

He was a prolific run scorer in Pakistani domestic cricket, making his career best score of 278 not out for Karachi Blues against Railway Greens in the 1965-66 season. Four years later he joined the newly formed National Bank cricket team and became their first ever captain, later coaching the side.

Mathias died of a brain haemorrhage in 1994, aged 59.