Who is Arafat Minhas, Pakistan cricket’s rising star all-rounder?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Arafat Minhas, a 21-year-old Pakistan all-rounder, is quickly becoming one of the national team’s most talked-about young players after a string of decisive performances in recent international matches. The article highlights his starring role in Pakistan’s tri-nation ODI final against Sri Lanka in Lahore, where he scored 61 off 31 balls to help finish a tense chase and secure the title. He was also named player of the series after ending the tournament with nine wickets and 149 runs, including two half-centuries.

The report says Minhas had already impressed earlier in the month against England in Rawalpindi, where he followed a 59-run innings with a six-wicket haul, a rare all-round feat in men’s ODIs. It also notes his impact on debut against Australia in May, when he took 5 for 32 and earned another player-of-the-series award. Minhas has described himself as a “complete all-rounder,” rather than a batter or bowler.

Al Jazeera also traces his development back to Multan, where his father, Kashif, helped shape his game from an early age, including encouraging left-arm spin and investing in practice facilities at home during the pandemic. The piece places Minhas within a cricketing family: his brothers Sameer and Abdullah are also pursuing the sport. The broader significance is that Pakistan appears to have found a young multi-skilled player who can influence matches with both bat and ball at a time when the team is seeking consistency and depth.