Arafat Minhas and Ghazi Ghori announced themselves on the international stage in style as Pakistan’s young brigade outclassed Australia in the first ODI, giving fans a glimpse of the team’s promising future.
WEBDESK
Pakistan’s next generation of cricketers delivered a statement performance against Australia on Friday, with 21-year-old debutant Arafat Minhas producing a record-breaking spell and young wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori starring with the bat in a comprehensive five-wicket victory at Rawalpindi.
The match belonged to Pakistan’s emerging stars, who stepped up against a strong Australian side and justified the selectors’ faith in youth.
Making his ODI debut, left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas etched his name into Pakistan cricket history by becoming the first Pakistani bowler to claim a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. His sensational figures of 5 for 32 dismantled Australia’s batting line-up and laid the foundation for Pakistan’s comfortable victory.
On a dry Rawalpindi surface offering assistance to spinners, Minhas displayed remarkable control, variation and maturity beyond his years. After settling into his spell, he ripped through Australia’s middle order, removing Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession before producing a superb delivery to bowl Cameron Green.
The young spinner later returned to dismiss Matthew Short and complete his historic five-wicket haul by bowling Nathan Ellis, capping off a dream international debut.
Australia’s innings was rescued temporarily by half-centuries from Matt Renshaw (61) and Matthew Short (55), but Pakistan’s spin attack never allowed the visitors to gain full control. Australia were eventually bowled out for 200, with 35 balls remaining in their innings.
Pakistan’s chase also highlighted the growing strength of the country’s young batting talent.
With several inexperienced players in the top order, there were concerns about how Pakistan would handle a tricky chase on a deteriorating pitch. However, Ghazi Ghori answered those questions emphatically.
The young wicketkeeper-batter played one of the finest knocks of his short international career, scoring 65 runs from 92 deliveries. More importantly, he shared a match-winning 127-run partnership with former captain Babar Azam that effectively took the game away from Australia.
Ghori’s composed innings earned widespread praise as he registered his maiden ODI half-century in only his second match. His knock also became the highest List A score of his career so far.
While Babar Azam anchored the innings with a patient 69, it was Ghori’s confidence and shot selection that stood out. The youngster rotated the strike smartly, punished loose deliveries and showed the temperament needed at the highest level.
Pakistan briefly lost a few wickets late in the chase, but there was never any real panic. Fittingly, it was Minhas who sealed the victory with a towering six down the ground, completing a memorable all-round performance on debut.
The victory will be especially pleasing for Pakistan’s management, as it demonstrated the depth of talent emerging within the national setup. With Minhas producing one of the greatest ODI debuts by a Pakistani bowler and Ghori delivering a mature batting display, the match offered a glimpse of what could be the country’s next generation of match-winners.
For Pakistan, the result was not just a victory over Australia—it was a celebration of youthful promise, with two young stars announcing their arrival on the international stage in unforgettable fashion.
Match Summary:
Australia 200 all out in 44.1 overs
(Matt Renshaw 61, Matthew Short 55; Arafat Minhas 5-32, Abrar Ahmed 2-44) lost to
Pakistan 202-5 in 42.3 overs
(Babar Azam 69, Ghazi Ghori 65; Nathan Ellis 2-45) by five wickets. Pakistan lead the ODI series 1-0.
