Anoop Chima was one of only two Canadian batsmen who
by the end of the 2022 ICC U19 World Cup’s Preliminary
Round had surpassed 100 runs. His aggregate after the
first four matches was actually 148 at a respectable average
of 37. His was 26 runs higher than that of his closest teammate, Skipper
Mihir Patel, who after the same number of matches and innings had
amassed 122 runs at a 30.50 average. As such he fully deserves having
been designated as the cover for this month’s Wickets January 2022 Issue.
Chima’s scores in his first four 2022 World Cup innings batted were
46, 38, 63 and 1 versus UAE, England, Bangladesh and Ireland
respectively. His only failing having been the three balls faced, caught
behind dismissal for 1 against Ireland.
As the Canadian team’s wicket-keeper, Chima’s glovework behind
the stumps throughout the tournament was also highly impressive.
After four matches his number of dismissals, comprised of three
catches and one stumping, had him placed joint fifth among
the tournament’s leading wicket-keepers. By then only
England’s Alex Horton (10), Uganda’s Cyrus Kakuru (9), Pakistan’s Hasseebullah Khan (8),
and Rivaldo Clarke (7) of the West
Indies had claimed more victims
than Chima himself.
Born December 20, 2002, and
known affectionately as Snoopy
to friends and family, Chima’s
stated very admirable, if not totally
lofty, cricket ambition is simply to
eventually become the very best in the
world. Towards that end, Chima’s
active involvement with cricket
started at age 5, as a member of the
Toronto Cricket Academy (TCA).
His interest had been generated from
watching televised international
matches in the company of his father
and grandfather. That very simple
initial exposure spawned a love and
passion for the game that intensified
with each step of his subsequent,
further involvement.
In addition to becoming a valued
playing member of the TCA’s teams,
Chima’s development was also
boosted significantly by his student
enrollment at England’s Repton
school. His time spent in England
opened a world of ultra-exciting
cricket related opportunities.
Foremost amongst those were his
inclusions as a playing member of
the Ticknall Cricket Club and even
more prestigiously the Derbyshire
Cricket Club’s 2nd XI.
Anoop made his Derbyshire 2nd XI in 2019 at the
impressively very young age of only 16. During his debut
year he also had the opportunity of actually playing on the
hallowed of Lord’s, cricket’s globally acknowledged and
universally accepted unofficial home.
With his ICC 2022 U19 World Cup experience now under
his belt, Chima’s next step towards the fulfilment of his
objective of becoming the very best in the world, will be to
become a valued member of the Canadian National Men’s
Senior team. He will, therefore, be hoping to be a member
of the Canadian Senior team, if and when it participates
in this coming November’s Cricket West Indies Caribbean
Regional Super50 Tournament.
Anoop Chima: Canada’s 2022 ICC U19 World Cup Shining Star!
