Pakistan produced a comprehensive team performance in Rawalpindi on October 20, 2026, as 21 year old all rounder Arafat Minhas delivered a match winning display to lead the hosts to an 87 run victory over England in the ongoing One Day International tri series. Minhas combined a forceful 59 with the bat and a devastating six wicket haul with the ball to dismantle England’s chase and keep Pakistan unbeaten in the competition so far.

How the match turned

Batting first at a near full house Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted 302 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. The innings was built around two major contributions. Hasan Nawaz provided the anchor with a composed 79, while Arafat Minhas accelerated lower down the order with a lively 59. Contributions from Faheem Ashraf and Saad Baig supplemented the total and gave Pakistan a competitive 300 plus score to defend.

England began their reply with intent. Openers built an encouraging start and Tom Banton and Ben Duckett combined to get the tourists past the 100 mark. England were positioned to press the chase until the middle overs, but Pakistan fought back with incisive bowling led by Minhas. Haris Rauf struck to break an important stand, and then Minhas produced a devastating sequence that ripped through the England middle and lower order.

Minhas finished with figures of six for 40 as England collapsed to 215 all out inside 39 overs. The young pacer executed a mix of pace, movement and disciplined lengths to force mistakes, while the rest of the attack disciplined the chase by maintaining pressure through tidy lines and support fields. Arafat also completed the match with a direct, accurate throw to run out a late tailender, reinforcing his influence on the game in both disciplines.

Why this performance matters for Pakistan

The victory carries weight for several reasons. First, the performance came against a high profile England side and does so on home soil, offering Pakistan a morale boosting result in front of domestic fans. Second, Arafat Minhas’s display is notable for its rarity. Genuine match turning all round performances in ODIs are uncommon, and a 50 and a six wicket haul in the same international fifty over game elevates Minhas into an elite, if small, group of players who have influenced both innings decisively in a single match.

For Pakistan’s selectors and coaching group, the win is practical evidence that the squad has emerging multi dimensional options. Arafat’s capacity to contribute substantial runs and to produce wicket taking spells provides balance to Pakistan’s limited overs unit as they prepare for a packed white ball calendar next year. The result also strengthens Pakistan’s position in the tri series, giving them an early points advantage with another match to come in the group stage.

Implications for England and the tournament

For England the defeat exposes vulnerabilities in the middle order when required to rebuild under tension. Several experienced batters could not convert starts into a sustained chase and were undone by timely breakthroughs in the middle overs. England now face the immediate task of regrouping ahead of the next fixture between England and Sri Lanka at the same venue.

The tri series is designed to provide competitive preparation for multiple teams as they move toward major global events next year. Pakistan’s victory reshuffles the short term dynamics of the points table and shifts the onus onto the visiting nations to respond quickly if they are to salvage their tri series aspirations.

Young star to watch

Arafat Minhas’s age and the timing of this performance make it especially noteworthy. At 21 years, delivering an all round match of this calibre in an international fixture increases his profile and raises legitimate expectations about his role in Pakistan’s future squads. The game offered a blueprint for how Pakistan can combine aggressive batting depth with wicket taking seam options to defend sizeable totals at home venues.

Coaches and national selectors will now have to weigh how best to manage his workload and development. A sustained run in the team could fast track Minhas into leadership situations inside the bowling unit while also giving Pakistan a middle order batter who can change the tempo of an innings late.

What comes next

The tri series continues with England and Sri Lanka scheduled to play next at Rawalpindi, while Pakistan will prepare for their next group fixture as the tournament shifts venues for later matches. The Rawalpindi result will be referenced by both opponents as they plan tactics, especially given Pakistan’s demonstration that a single player can swing the contest in limited overs cricket.

For Pakistan fans the victory offers immediate satisfaction, a recruitment of momentum, and a new name to follow in Arafat Minhas. For neutrals, the match served as a reminder that high stakes limited overs cricket can still produce rare and decisive all round performances that alter the complexion of a tournament in a single evening.