Arafat Minhas Makes ODI History with Five-Wicket Haul on Debut

Arafat Minhas has made history by becoming the first Pakistani bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul on his ODI debut against Australia. In a match held in Rawalpindi, Minhas took 5 wickets for 32 runs, leading his team to victory as they chased down a target of 201 runs. Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori played crucial roles in the chase, ensuring a comfortable win with 45 balls to spare. The second ODI of the series is set to take place in Lahore soon.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 19:19 IST

Historic Debut for Arafat Minhas

In a remarkable achievement, Arafat Minhas, a spinner from Pakistan, has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first bowler from his nation to secure a five-wicket haul on his One Day International (ODI) debut. This milestone was reached during the inaugural ODI match against Australia held in Rawalpindi, where he recorded impressive figures of 5 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs, helping to restrict Australia to a modest total. Prior to Minhas, the record for the best debut figures for Pakistan was held by Zakir Hussain, who took 4 wickets for 19 runs against New Zealand in Peshawar back in 1984.

Australia's Struggles in the Match

In the match, Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first. They quickly put Australia under pressure, reducing them to 68 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. A partnership between Matthew Short, who scored 55 runs off 61 balls with six boundaries, and Matt Renshaw, who contributed 61 runs off 63 balls with five fours and a six, helped stabilize the innings. Matthew Kuhnemann added 24 runs off 40 balls, but Australia could only muster a total of 200 runs in 44.1 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf each took one wicket, while Abrar Ahmed claimed two.

Pakistan's Successful Chase

Pakistan's response to the 201-run target was led by solid performances from Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori. Babar scored 69 runs off 94 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six, while Ghori added 65 runs off 92 balls, including eight boundaries. Pakistan successfully chased down the target with 45 balls remaining and five wickets in hand. The second ODI of the three-match series is scheduled to take place in Lahore on Tuesday.