Arafat Minhas Makes History with Five Wickets on ODI Debut
A Historic Debut for Arafat Minhas
On May 30, young spinner Arafat Minhas etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first Pakistani player to achieve five wickets in his One Day International (ODI) debut. This remarkable feat occurred during the first ODI of a three-match series against Australia held in Rawalpindi. The 21-year-old, who previously represented Pakistan in four T20 Internationals since his debut against Hong Kong on October 3, 2023, bowled a full quota of 10 overs, claiming five wickets.
Minhas made his mark early, trapping Australian captain Josh Inglis LBW on the third ball of the 14th over. Just two deliveries later, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, also LBW, for a duck. His third wicket came in the 16th over when he sent Cameron Green back to the pavilion for a three-ball duck. In the 27th over, he took down opener Matthew Short, who scored 55 runs off 76 balls before being stumped by wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. Finally, in his last over, Minhas secured his fifth wicket by dismissing Nathan Ellis, solidifying his record-breaking performance.
Top ODI Debut Bowling Figures by Pakistani Bowlers
Arafat Minhas: 5/32 vs AUS (2026)
Zakir Khan: 4/19 vs NZ (1984)
Abdul Qadir: 4/21 vs NZ (1983)
Abrar Ahmed: 4/33 vs ZIM (2024)
Sarfraz Nawaz: 4/46 vs NZ (1973)
Sufyan Moqim: 4/52 vs SA (2024)
Before Minhas, five Pakistani bowlers had taken four wickets on their ODI debuts, but none had achieved a five-wicket haul. His performance marks him as the first bowler to take five wickets in an ODI debut against Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The previous record for the best bowling figures on ODI debut against Australia was held by West Indies pacer Hendy Bryan, who took 4 for 24 in 10 overs on April 11, 1999. Additionally, Charlie Cassell from Scotland holds the overall record for best bowling figures on ODI debut, with 7 for 21 against Oman on July 22, 2024. Notably, former West Indies bowler Fidel Edwards recorded 6 for 22 against Zimbabwe in 2003, while South African Kagiso Rabada achieved 6 for 16 against Bangladesh in his debut in 2015.