Arafat Minhas made his ODI debut unforgettable, claiming a remarkable five-wicket haul — the first Pakistan bowler to achieve this feat on his maiden appearance in the format.
His sensational 5 for 32 from his ten overs dismantled the Australian batting lineup and orchestrated Pakistan’s comprehensive five-wicket victory in the first ODI at Rawalpindi.
The 21-year-old left-arm finger-spinner used a clever arsenal of variations and subtle flight on a pitch that offered ample purchase to spinners, bundling Australia out for just 200.
In the run chase, another youngster, wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori, rose to prominence as he put on a resolute 127-run partnership with captain Babar Azam to seal the win.
Despite the heat, Shaheen Shah Afridi elected to bowl on a dry pitch. Pakistan used four spinners and two quicks and wrapped up Australia with 35 balls to spare for a meagre total — the plan worked.
Adam Zampa was ruled out before the toss with neck spasms and replaced by Tanveer Sangha, who bowled tidily. A good target would have tested Pakistan’s inexperienced top three (Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Ghori), all recent debutants.
Australia began steadily: makeshift openers Matthew Short and Alex Carey found early boundaries, Short hit two fours off Haris Rauf, but Carey was caught at slip off Abrar Ahmed’s flighted delivery in the seventh over.
Afridi introduced Minhas and they bowled in tandem until the 16th over. Minhas took time to find his length but then ripped through Australia — in his fourth over he pushed the ball with the arm and trapped Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne in front.
A 55-run partnership between Short and Matt Renshaw steadied the innings; both scored fifties. Afridi removed the spinners from the attack; Shadab, in his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup, was hit for 12 in one over and finished 0–54 from eight overs. Afridi returned to Minhas, who beat Short with pace and turn.
Pakistan used all four spinners (Salman Agha bowled five overs) but none turned like Minhas. Brought back at the start of the third powerplay, Minhas completed a five-wicket haul by bowling Nathan Ellis. Babar reached his 38th ODI fifty but was dropped by Kuhnemann and later fell to Ellis’ slower ball; Ellis also dismissed Ghori, and Labuschagne removed Agha with a missed slog sweep.
Pakistan won with 45 balls to spare, sealed by a huge six from Minhas — he finished 18 not out off 17.