Arafat Minhas: Pakistan All-Rounder Sets National Record With 5-32 And 18* (17) On ODI Debut Against Australia

Arafat Minhas, PAK vs AUS 2026 ODIs, Arafat Minhas five wickets on debut, Arafat Minhas ODI debut record

Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas made a successful ODI debut against Australia on Saturday (May 30), putting in a player of the match performance and becoming the first player from his country to take an five-wicket haul on men's ODI debut.

Arafat Minhas creates Pakistan record on ODI debut

The 21-year-old Minhas made his ODI debut in the first match of the series against Australia. A left-arm spinner and left-handed batter, Minhas was given the ball in the eighth over of Australia's innings as they batted first.

After 20 wicketless deliveries, Minhas got his first breakthrough in ODI cricket, pinning Josh Inglis lbw in the 14th over. It took only other two balls for him to get his second, as he trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw in the same over for a duck. Continuing the arithmetic progression, Minhas had his third ODI wicket three balls later, this time knocking over Cameron Green's stumps with a beauty.

Minhas then returned for his second spell where he removed Matt Short for his fourth wicket, before knocking over Nathan Ellis in the 43rd over to complete his five-for. In the process, he became the first Pakistan cricketer - male or female - to take five wickets on ODI debut. He broke Zakir Khan's 42-year-old record for the best figures by a Pakistan cricketer on ODI debut.

Best bowling figures by a Pakistan cricketer on men's ODI debut

Player	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Econ	Opposition	Ground	Start Date
Arafat Minhas	10	1	32	5	3.20	v Australia	Rawalpindi	30 May 2026
Zakir Khan	8	2	19	4	2.37	v New Zealand	Peshawar	12 Nov 1984
Abdul Qadir	12	4	21	4	1.75	v New Zealand	Birmingham	11 Jun 1983
Abrar Ahmed	8	2	33	4	4.12	v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	26 Nov 2024
Sarfraz Nawaz	7.3	0	46	4	4.67	v New Zealand	Christchurch	11 Feb 1973
Sufyan Moqim	8	1	52	4	6.5	v South Africa	Johannesburg	22 Dec 2024

Australia were bowled out for 200, losing their last three wickets for just one run. Pakistan lost both their openers by the 13th over, but Babar Azam (69 off 94) and Ghazi Ghori (65 off 92) built a match-winning third-wicket partnership.

Minhas came in at No.5 and added the finishing touches, remaining unbeaten on 18 off 17 balls as Pakistan won by five wickets. Minhas also became the first-ever cricketer to take five wickets and play an unbeaten knock of 15 or more runs on men's ODI debut, in the process.

Minhas has already played four T20Is, while his younger brother Sameer has been a star at the U19 level and looks primed for higher honours soon as well.

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