Arafat Minhas Shines as Pakistan Defeats Australia in ODI Debut

Arafat Minhas delivered a stellar performance on his ODI debut, steering Pakistan to a five-wicket triumph against an under-strength Australia. His five-wicket haul coupled with a critical batting contribution sealed Pakistan's win as they chased a target of 200 in 42.3 overs.

The 21-year-old left-arm spinner made history with figures of 5-32, becoming the first Pakistani bowler to claim five wickets on ODI debut. Australia struggled with a depleted lineup, posting 200 in 44.1 overs. A solid 127-run partnership between Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori furthered Pakistan's innings, with Minhas wrapping up the game with a decisive six.

Australia's camp was notably missing first-choice bowlers due to IPL commitments and injuries, leaving their bowling attack vulnerable. Despite some resistance from Matthew Renshaw who scored 61, the visitors couldn't sustain against Pakistan's bowling, where Minhas excelled with support from Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan.

This victory made Pakistan only the third nation to play 1,000 ODIs, joining the ranks of India and Australia. The series continues in Lahore with two more matches scheduled.

(With inputs from agencies.)