Is Arafat Minhas Pakistan’s next Cricket Superstar?

Arafat Minhas is a Pakistani cricketer who rose to prominence after a record-breaking ODI debut against Australia in May 2026.

The performance quickly pushed him into the spotlight, marking him as one of Pakistan’s most talked-about young talents.

However, his rise has not been sudden. It has been built through consistent performances across age-group cricket, domestic competitions and franchise cricket, where he developed a reputation for steady all-round contributions.

Minhas is a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox spinner, valued for his ability to impact matches in both innings.

He has progressed through Pakistan’s structured cricket pathway, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Pakistan Shaheens and the national setup.

While many fans first noticed him on the international stage, his development began much earlier through youth-level cricket, where he built the foundation for his all-round game.

As Pakistan continues to search for reliable multi-dimensional players, Arafat Minhas has emerged as one of the country’s most promising young all-rounders, with his reputation built on performance rather than expectation.

Growing Up in Multan

Arafat Minhas was born in Multan on January 2, 2005.

Cricket in Multan is deeply rooted in local culture, with many young players developing ambitions of representing Pakistan on neighbourhood grounds and club pitches.

Minhas grew up in this environment and was drawn to the game from an early age.

His father played a key role in shaping that pathway. With a strong passion for cricket, he encouraged Minhas and his brothers to take the sport seriously and commit to structured development.

Unlike many young cricketers who start with tape-ball cricket, Minhas was introduced to hard-ball cricket early.

By the age of eight, he was already playing club cricket, giving him an unusually early grounding in the technical demands of the game.

That exposure helped establish the foundations of his development, both in skill and discipline.

Throughout his journey, Minhas has credited his parents for supporting his ambitions and maintaining belief in his long-term potential.

Representing Pakistan became a shared source of pride within the family, reinforcing his motivation during the early stages of his career.

Away from the field, Minhas has admired former South Africa star AB de Villiers.

However, rather than modelling his game on a single player, he has focused on learning from multiple cricketers and studying different styles, an approach that has shaped his overall development.

How Did Arafat Minhas Rise Through the Youth System?

Pakistan’s youth cricket structure has long been a pathway to the international stage, and Arafat Minhas quickly stood out as one of its leading prospects.

He progressed through Pakistan’s age-group system, representing the Under-13 and Under-16 sides before moving into higher levels of junior cricket.

His first major breakthrough came in the 2021/22 National Under-19 Championship, where he finished as Player of the Tournament. The award marked him as a player to watch within Pakistan’s development pipeline.

That form earned him selection for the Pakistan Under-19 side, where he continued to deliver consistent all-round performances.

During Pakistan Under-19’s tour of Bangladesh in May 2023, Minhas contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 40 off 42 balls and taking three wickets in a single match.

He followed this with one of the standout innings of his youth career against Sri Lanka Under-19s, scoring 95 from 66 deliveries to secure Player of the Match honours.

The innings underlined his attacking batting style and growing confidence at international youth level.

His rising influence within the squad was further recognised when he was appointed vice-captain for Pakistan’s Under-19 Asia Cup campaign, reflecting both his performances and leadership potential.

Recognition beyond Youth Cricket

Arafat Minhas’ rise was not limited to youth cricket, as his performances quickly translated into recognition on bigger domestic stages.

He impressed in Pakistan’s development-focused competitions, designed to identify and prepare the next generation of international players.

A key breakthrough came in the Pakistan Junior League, where he represented Gwadar Sharks and delivered consistent all-round performances throughout the tournament.

His impact was reflected in the awards he received, including the Best All-Rounder title and selection as captain of the Team of the Tournament.

As his profile grew, opportunities followed within Pakistan’s domestic structure. Minhas made his List A debut for Southern Punjab, marking his entry into senior domestic cricket.

He also began gaining exposure in franchise environments, where the intensity and standards were notably higher than at junior level.

These experiences proved important for his development, offering regular opportunities to learn from senior and international players.

As his reputation continued to rise, Minhas earned a place in the Pakistan Super League, a key step in his transition towards becoming a fully established professional cricketer.

What did the PSL Teach?

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become a key development platform for emerging cricketers, offering Arafat Minhas exposure to elite-level environments early in his career.

For Minhas, it provided the chance to train and share dressing rooms with some of the game’s most experienced international players.

He initially spent time with Multan Sultans before later joining Karachi Kings, where he gained further experience of professional franchise cricket.

Minhas has spoken openly about the value of those opportunities, highlighting how much he learned from being around senior professionals.

Reflecting on the experience, he said: “It was a different and enriching experience.

“Sharing the dressing room with big names of the game, participating in fielding drills, receiving batting tips, bowling in the nets, it was a learning curve for me.”

That emphasis on learning has remained a consistent theme throughout his development and has been noted by coaches and selectors.

The PSL also helped him better understand the demands of elite cricket, particularly the standards required in preparation, execution and consistency.

Training alongside established internationals gave him a clearer sense of what is needed to succeed at the highest level.

For a young all-rounder still building his career, these experiences provided lessons that went beyond performances on the field and helped shape his progression towards international cricket.

Stepping into International Cricket

Arafat Minhas began his international career in October 2023, making his T20 International debut against Hong Kong at the Asian Games.

He made an immediate impression, scoring 25 from 16 balls and taking two wickets, signalling his all-round potential at international level.

Although the opportunity gave him early exposure, Minhas was still in the development phase of his career and continued to build experience through domestic and representative cricket.

His appearances remained limited in the early stages, but the exposure helped him adapt to the demands and intensity of international cricket.

His defining breakthrough came in the ODI format.

On 30 May 2026, Minhas made his One Day International debut against Australia in Rawalpindi, a match that also marked Pakistan’s 1,000th ODI.

What followed was a performance that immediately elevated his profile.

Bowling on a surface that increasingly favoured spin, Minhas delivered a standout spell of 5-32 from 10 overs, helping restrict Australia to 200.

He later added an unbeaten 18 runs as Pakistan secured a five-wicket victory.

His performance also set a national record, making him the first Pakistani bowler to take five wickets on ODI debut.

The achievement instantly established him as one of the most talked-about emerging cricketers in Pakistan.

Why are Experts excited about Arafat Minhas?

Arafat Minhas’ debut drew widespread praise from former players, with several describing it as one of the standout performances by a young Pakistan cricketer in recent years.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja commented:

“Arafat Minhas’ debut was outstanding – a dream debut. His temperament is rock solid, and he showed unusual clarity and confidence despite playing his first ODI.

“Unlike many youngsters who struggle, nothing like that was seen from Arafat. Youngsters don’t come with any baggage, they bring freshness to the dressing room.”

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali also highlighted his all-round impact:

“Arafat Minhas stole the show: top-class bowling, excellent fielding, and an unbeaten 18 runs.

“This was a top-class performance in his debut. Arafat Minhas created Pakistan’s record by taking five wickets in his first ODI.”

Kamran Akmal added further praise, saying:

“Arafat Minhas wouldn’t have expected himself to perform like this. Top-class bowling. This was Pakistan’s memorable victory in the 1,000th ODI, and Arafat Minhas made the defining moment.”

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson also described Minhas’ start to international cricket as “outstanding”, pointing to his previous exposure through the PSL and Pakistan Shaheens.

He added that while the coaching staff were already aware of his potential, his debut exceeded expectations.

Hesson also confirmed that Minhas is part of Pakistan’s long-term planning ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup, underlining his growing importance within the national setup.

However, former fast bowler Tanveer Ahmed offered a more measured perspective, urging caution despite the strong start.

“Arafat Minhas took five wickets and gave a great performance; five outs in a debut is a huge achievement.

“But on a batting wicket, if he took three outs and conceded 55-60 runs, that would have been even better.

“On this pitch, the ball is breaking – he’s not facing tough effort. When you don’t get help from the wicket, your skills increase and you learn more.”

While Arafat Minhas has made an impressive start to his international career, Pakistan cricket has a long history of young players facing heightened expectations after early breakthroughs.

The key challenge now will be sustaining consistency across formats and adapting to different conditions as opposition analysis becomes more detailed.

Minhas appears to recognise that reality. Speaking about his ambitions, he said:

“When you debut, you’ve achieved that goal, but your next goal is what matters most. I want to serve my country for as long as possible and give good performances so our team and our country benefit.”

That mindset may prove to be one of his biggest strengths as his career develops.

From the cricket grounds of Multan to a record-breaking ODI debut against Australia, Minhas’ rise has been shaped by talent, discipline and perseverance.

Whether he fulfils the expectations now surrounding him remains to be seen, but his start has already marked him out as a player with the potential to influence Pakistan’s future.