Brief

Arafat Minhas scores maiden ODI fifty and takes six wickets as Pakistan beat England

The 21‑year‑old left‑arm spinner posted a 59‑run knock and 6‑40 bowling figures to help Pakistan post 302‑9 and bowl out England for 215.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:02:36 GMT

Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with 21‑year‑old Arafat Minhas delivering a maiden ODI half‑century and a six‑wicket haul, Gulf News reported.

What happened

England won the toss and elected to chase a target of 303. They reached 91 without loss before losing wickets in quick succession. Minhas removed Will Jacks and Adil Rashid with consecutive deliveries, and later dismissed Gus Atkinson, leaving England 215 all out in 38.4 overs. Pakistan, batting first, recovered from 133‑5 to 302‑9, thanks to a 78‑run partnership between Hasan Nawaz (79) and Minhas (59).

What the reports add

Gulf News’s first article highlighted that Minhas’s six for 40 were career‑best figures and noted his earlier five‑for‑32 debut against Australia in May, making him the first Pakistani male cricketer with a five‑wicket haul on ODI debut. The second article added that Minhas was named Player of the Match and that England’s Ben Duckett and Tom Banton had contributed 45 and 57 runs respectively before falling.

What was said

Gulf News quoted the match report saying Minhas “produced a memorable all‑round performance” and that his figures “proved decisive after the visitors had made a promising start to their chase of 303.”

How it came about

Pakistan entered the tri‑series having beaten Sri Lanka by 37 runs at the same venue on October 18, as reported in Felo News’s coverage of that match (Pakistan beat Sri Lanka ODI). England’s squad for the series, announced on October 1, omitted regulars Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer (England name ODI tri‑series squad). The series runs from 18 October to 31 October, with Pakistan set to face England again on October 25 in Lahore.