HUMAYUN KHAN
PESHAWAR: Young Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas delivered a sensational performance in the opening One-Day International (ODI) against Australia, claiming five wickets and etching his name into the record books.
Playing his maiden ODI in Rawalpindi on Saturday, Minhas produced a match-winning spell of 5 wickets for 32 runs in his allotted 10 overs. His remarkable effort helped Pakistan dismiss Australia for 200 runs in 44.1 overs in the first match of the three-match series.
With this outstanding performance, Arafat Minhas became the first Pakistani cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut, setting a new national record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani on debut in the 50-over format.
Minhas was well supported by fellow spinners Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha, who kept the Australian batting lineup under constant pressure. Pakistan later chased down the target comfortably with five wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The young star’s historic bowling figures of 5/32 surpassed the previous best ODI debut bowling performances by Pakistani bowlers. Zakir Khan ranks second with 4/19 against New Zealand in 1984, followed by Abdul Qadir with 4/21 against New Zealand in 1983, Abrar Ahmed with 4/33 against Zimbabwe in 2024, and Sarfaraz Nawaz with 4/46 against New Zealand in 1973.
Arafat Minhas’ memorable debut has not only guided Pakistan to victory but has also established him as one of the country’s most promising young cricketers.
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