Summary: On 20 October 2026 in Rawalpindi, 21-year-old Arafat Minhas produced one of the great all-round performances in Pakistan’s ODI history: 59 runs with the bat and 6 wickets for 40 runs with the ball, as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in the ODI tri-series. In doing so he became only the third Pakistani man ever to score a fifty and take five wickets in the same ODI — joining Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in one of the most exclusive clubs in the sport.
The Match: Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi
- Match: Pakistan vs England, second ODI of the Pakistan–England–Sri Lanka ODI tri-series
- Date: 20 October 2026
- Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
- Toss: England won and chose to bowl
- Pakistan: 302/9 in 50 overs
- England: 215 all out in 38.4 overs
- Result: Pakistan won by 87 runs
- Player of the Match: Arafat Minhas — 59 runs and 6/40
The win gave Pakistan two wins from two matches in the tri-series, and according to the PCB it was Pakistan’s biggest ODI victory over England by runs since 2005.
The Batting: 59 When Pakistan Needed It Most
Pakistan lost early wickets and were in trouble before the middle order rebuilt. Batting at number seven, Minhas walked in with the innings wobbling and played a calm, mature hand: 59 runs from 58 balls, with nine fours.
The key partnership was with Hasan Nawaz, who made 79 from 74 balls. Together they put on a 78-run stand that dragged Pakistan past 200 and turned a shaky start into a competitive total. Faheem Ashraf’s late 39 from 26 balls then pushed Pakistan to 302/9 — a total built on contributions across the order rather than a single century.
For a 21-year-old playing only his fifth ODI, it was a display of remarkable composure: no wild slogs, just placement, patience, and acceleration at the right moments.
The Bowling: 6/40 That Broke England’s Chase
If the batting rescued Pakistan, the bowling won the match. England started their chase well and at one stage were 165 for 3, very much in the game. Then Minhas’ left-arm spin took over.
His figures — 6 wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs — included the wickets of England captain Harry Brook (bowled for 5 by a turning delivery that hit off stump), Tom Banton (57), Jordan Cox, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks, and Adil Rashid. England lost their last seven wickets for just 50 runs and were bowled out for 215.
After the match, Minhas kept it simple: he said he focused on bowling in good areas, trusted the slightly slow Rawalpindi pitch to help him, and varied his pace — mixing spin with the arm ball — so batters could never settle. It was a textbook explanation of a match-winning spell: no mystery, just discipline and variation.
The Record: Only the Third Pakistani Man Ever
Here is where the performance moves from excellent to historic. Minhas became only the third Pakistani man to score a fifty and take five wickets in the same ODI. The full list: Abdul Razzaq vs India, Hobart, 2000 — 70 not out, 5/48; Shahid Afridi vs England, Lahore, 2000 — 61, 5/40; Shahid Afridi vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 2011 — 75, 5/35; Shahid Afridi vs West Indies, Providence, 2013 — 76, 7/12; Arafat Minhas vs England, Rawalpindi, 2026 — 59, 6/40.
Afridi achieved the feat three times; Razzaq once; and now Minhas, at 21, in just his fifth ODI. Across all of men’s ODI cricket, it is only the 25th such occurrence — a group that includes Viv Richards, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, and Shakib Al Hasan.
There is a second record tucked inside the first: Minhas’ 6/40 is the fourth-best bowling figures by a Pakistan spinner in ODIs, behind only Afridi’s 7/12 against West Indies (2013), Yasir Shah’s 6/26 against Zimbabwe (2015), and Afridi’s 6/38 against Australia (2009).
Reports also note that Minhas had already made headlines earlier in 2026 with a five-wicket haul on ODI debut against Australia — two five-fors and a fifty inside his first five ODIs is a start Pakistan fans will not forget quickly.
Why This Matters Beyond One Match
- For Pakistan: A young all-rounder who can bat at seven and bowl ten overs of quality spin solves two selection problems at once — especially with the 2027 World Cup cycle in view.
- For the tri-series: Two wins from two, a big net-run-rate boost, and a statement win over England put Pakistan firmly on course for the final.
- For Minhas: Performances like this change careers. He arrived as a promising 21-year-old; he leaves Rawalpindi as a record-holder mentioned in the same breath as Afridi and Razzaq.
What Next
Pakistan’s tri-series campaign continues, and Minhas will now carry expectation as well as promise — the hardest part of a breakthrough performance is repeating it. But on the evidence of Rawalpindi, the temperament looks as strong as the talent. If he keeps his plans as simple as he described them, this will not be the last time his name appears on a records list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Arafat Minhas do against England?
He scored 59 runs from 58 balls and then took 6 wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs, winning Player of the Match as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi on 20 October 2026.
Who are the only Pakistanis to score a fifty and take five wickets in the same ODI?
Only three: Shahid Afridi (three times), Abdul Razzaq (once), and now Arafat Minhas (once, vs England, Rawalpindi, 2026).
What are Minhas’ bowling figures of 6/40 ranked among Pakistan spinners?
They are the fourth-best figures by a Pakistan spinner in ODIs, behind Afridi’s 7/12, Yasir Shah’s 6/26, and Afridi’s 6/38.
How old is Arafat Minhas and how many ODIs had he played?
He is 21 years old, and the England match was only his fifth ODI.
