Pakistan secured an impressive 87-run victory over England in the opening match of their one-day international tri-series on 20 October 2026 in Rawalpindi, with 21-year-old Arafat Minhas delivering a standout all-round performance. Playing only his fifth ODI, Minhas struck 59 with the bat before claiming six for 40 with the ball as England collapsed from a promising position to 215 all out, falling well short of Pakistan's 302 for nine.
According to The Guardian, the result marked a welcome turnaround for Pakistan following their difficult English summer, where they had endured a 3-0 Test series defeat. The contest unfolded in familiar territory without the threat of Ollie Robinson's lethal seam bowling, and in a format where Pakistan has traditionally shown greater comfort.
Pakistan's innings began poorly, with opener Fakhar Zaman chipping the first delivery to midwicket and fellow opener Saim Ayub dismissed for eight after being bounced out by Sonny Baker. Babar Azam's early momentum was halted when he fell to Will Jacks' off-spin for 34, attempting to work the ball off the back foot. At 81 for four, Pakistan's position looked precarious.
Hasan Nawaz, making only his sixth ODI appearance, initiated the recovery with aggressive batting. According to BBC Sport, Nawaz compiled 79 from 74 balls, striking five fours and four sixes. He welcomed Adil Rashid's leg-spin with particular relish, dispatching three sixes against the veteran bowler. Though dropped on 28 by Gus Atkinson, Nawaz built valuable partnerships with Saad Baig and Minhas before falling to Jamie Overton's 87mph yorker.
Minhas provided the final thrust with a measured 59 from 58 deliveries, including nine fours according to BBC Sport. Faheem Ashraf contributed a brisk 26-ball 39, and Pakistan's lower order proved decisive, extracting 91 runs from the final 10 overs to push the total past 300.
Salman Agha's turbulent return
Salman Agha's dismissal for 26 encapsulated his remarkable two-month journey. After captaining Pakistan in the Headingley Test in August, he was dropped for the second Test and omitted entirely from the squad for the third. Returning home, he struck a triple hundred in first-class cricket, lost the captaincy of Pakistan's T20 team, then produced a match-winning century against Sri Lanka in the tri-series opener on 18 October. His confident start here ended abruptly when he top-edged Rashid's flight for an easy catch in the deep.
England's collapse from strength
England's chase began promisingly, with Tom Banton and Ben Duckett adding 91 for the first wicket. Banton reached 57 before slapping Minhas to midwicket in the 19th over, ending his hopes of back-to-back ODI centuries. With Jacob Bethell unavailable through injury, Banton's continued run of games will inform England's thinking about their opening pair in the format.
Harry Brook, who had scored five of his 15 international hundreds against Pakistan, required something special to continue his dominance. Minhas provided it with a delivery of exceptional quality when Brook was on five—a fizzing ball with sufficient turn to knock back off stump. The dismissal proved a turning point, with England's middle order unable to recover.
Pakistan's pace attack, which had lacked penetration during the recent Test series, proved decisive in Rawalpindi. Haris Rauf's short-pitched bowling forced fatal errors from Duckett and Sam Curran, while Naseem Shah skidded a delivery through Joe Root's defence. Sonny Baker took 3/65 for England, but his efforts proved insufficient.
Minhas' bowling display proved irresistible. Jordan Cox fell lbw to another fine delivery, while Jamie Overton gifted a simple catch to long-on. Will Jacks, developing a reputation as a finisher, found midwicket—a familiar dismissal pattern throughout the innings—and Minhas trapped Adil Rashid in front moments later. With 11.2 overs remaining, Minhas completed his night with a direct hit to run out Atkinson.
Series context and next fixture
The tri-series serves as crucial preparation for the ODI World Cup, with Pakistan having already defeated Sri Lanka in their opening match. England, seeking to build momentum after their Test series struggles, will look to respond in their next fixture. The next tri-series match is scheduled for 22 October in Rawalpindi, offering both teams an immediate opportunity to adjust their approaches.
