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Arafat Minhas entered the history books on Saturday (May 30) by becoming the first Pakistan player to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. The 21-yeaJr-old spinner from Multan, who has already represented Pakistan in four T20Is since making his international debut against Hong Kong in Hangzhou on October 3, 2023, bowled nine overs in the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Rawalpindi and claimed five wickets.
Minhas opened his wicket account by trapping Australia captain Josh Inglis lbw on the third ball of the 14th over. Two deliveries later, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, who was also adjudged lbw for a two-ball duck.
His third wicket came in the form of Cameron Green, who was bowled for a three-ball duck on the second
ball of the 16th over. Minhas then claimed his fourth wicket by dismissing opener Matthew Short on the first ball of the 27th over. Short was stumped by wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori after scoring 55 runs from 76 balls.
The young spinner completed his record-breaking five-wicket haul by dismissing Nathan Ellis on the fifth ball of his 10th and final over of the innings.
Before Minhas’ achievement, four Pakistan bowlers had taken four-wicket hauls on ODI debut, but none had managed to claim five wickets.
Best bowling figures for Pakistan on ODI debut
| PLAYER | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Arafat Minhas | 10 | 32 | 5 | Australia | Rawalpindi | May 30, 2026 |
| Zakir Khan | 8 | 19 | 4 | New Zealand | Peshawar | November 12, 1984 |
| Abdul Qadir | 12 | 21 | 4 | New Zealand | Birmingham | June 11, 1983 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 8 | 33 | 4 | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | November 26, 2024 |
| Sarfraz Nawaz | 7.3 | 46 | 4 | New Zealand | Christchurch | February 11, 1973 |
| Sufyan Moqim | 8 | 52 | 4 | South Africa | Johannesburg | December 22, 2024 |
His five-wicket haul at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium also made him the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut against Australia.
The previous record for the best bowling figures on ODI debut against the six-time World Cup champions belonged to West Indies pacer Hendy Bryan, who returned figures of 4 for 24 in 10 overs against Australia in Kingstown on April 11, 1999.
Best bowling figures on ODI debut vs Australia
| PLAYER | TEAM | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | VENUE | DATE |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | 10 | 32 | 5 | Rawalpindi | May 30, 2026 |
| Hendy Bryan | West Indies | 10 | 24 | 4 | Kingstown | April 11, 1999 |
| Graham Stevenson | England | 9.4 | 33 | 4 | Sydney | January 14, 1980 |
| Duncan Fletcher | Zimbabwe | 11 | 42 | 4 | Nottingham | June 9, 1983 |
| Dave Rundle | South Africa | 9 | 42 | 4 | Brisbane | January 9, 1994 |
| Lonwabo Tsotsobe | South Africa | 9 | 50 | 4 | Perth (WACA) | January 30, 2009 |
The all-time record for the best bowling figures on ODI debut is held by Scotland pacer Charlie Cassell, who took 7 for 21 in 5.4 overs against Oman in Dundee on July 22, 2024.
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada picked up 6 for 16 against Bangladesh on ODI debut in 2015, while former West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards recorded figures of 6 for 22 in seven overs against Zimbabwe in Harare on November 29, 2003.
