RAWALPINDI: Pakistan spinner Arafat Minhas etched his name into the record books on Saturday by becoming the first Pakistani bowler to take five wickets on his One-Day International (ODI) debut.
The young left-arm spinner achieved the feat against Australia in Rawalpindi, finishing with figures of 5 for 32 from 10 overs, including one maiden.
His performance broke a 42-year-old national record held by Zakaria Khan, who took 4 for 19 against Sri Lanka on his ODI debut in 1984.
Before Minhas, the best bowling figures by a Pakistani on ODI debut belonged to Zakaria Khan and former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who claimed 4 for 21 against Sri Lanka in 1983.
In recent years, Abrar Ahmed took 4 for 33 against Zimbabwe on his ODI debut in 2024, while Sufyan Muqeem picked up 4 for 52 in his first ODI appearance.
Minhas surpassed them all with a five-wicket haul, setting a new benchmark in Pakistan’s ODI history.
Best Bowling Figures on ODI Debut for Pakistan:
- Arafat Minhas – 5/32 vs Australia (2026)
- Zakaria Khan – 4/19 vs Sri Lanka (1984)
- Abdul Qadir – 4/21 vs Sri Lanka (1983)
- Abrar Ahmed – 4/33 vs Zimbabwe (2024)
- Sufyan Muqeem – 4/52
Cricket analysts hailed the performance as a sign of Minhas’ immense potential and a positive indicator for the future of Pakistan’s bowling attack.
