The anisotropic and plasma screening effects on the electron capture process are investigated in an anisotropic plasma in the presence of an external electric field. The Bohr-Lindhard model with the impact parameter analysis is applied to obtain the electron capture probability in the anisotropic plasma as a function of the impact parameter, Debye length, and collision energy. The result shows that the electron capture cross section decreases with increasing collision energy. It is also found that the anisotropic effect strongly suppresses the electron capture cross section in the anisotropic plasma. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.