RAWALPINDI: Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas has ruled out replacing Mohammad Nawaz after the opening ODI of the series against Australia.
Asked at the post-match media interaction after the first ODI if his fine debut had led to suggestions that he could be a contender to oust Mohammad Nawaz for a place in the side, despite Nawaz’s experience and long-standing role with the national team, Arafat said:
“I don’t want to be a substitute for anyone. “I want to be a permanent member of the team and to deliver match-winning performances for the side,” he told reporters.
He also said that in the past whenever he had opportunities at the junior level, he always looked to deliver match-winning performances, which had an impact.
“I think in my past cricket as well—whether it was at the U19 level, Pakistan Shaheens, or wherever I got the chance—I always tried to deliver match-winning and impactful performances. “And I think I’ve been successful in doing that,” he said.
The 21-year-old left-arm spinner took superb figures of 5-32 in his allotted 10 overs as Pakistan bowled out Australia for 200 in 44.1 overs yesterday, rewriting the national record books in the process.
Minhas’s performance was the best bowling figure by a Pakistani on ODI debut, breaking a 41-year-old record held by former pacer Zakir Khan, who had taken 4-19 against New Zealand in 1984.
His figures also surpassed the previous best by a Pakistani spinner on ODI debut, a record held by legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who took 4-21 against New Zealand in 1983.
Chasing a modest target of 201, Pakistan were 202-5 in 42.3 overs thanks to a match-defining 127-run partnership between Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori.
Minhas chipped in with the bat too, making an unbeaten 18 off 17 balls, including two fours and a six to end the game.
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