Pakistan were struggling at five wickets down and required 125 runs from 79 balls when Minhas arrived at the crease. He formed a crucial partnership with Hasan Nawaz, eventually hitting five sixes in his 31-ball knock of 61 to seal the trophy.

Minhas finished the series with 149 runs and nine wickets, earning him the player of the series award. His aggressive batting in the final stages of the match ensured Pakistan overhauled the target despite the mounting pressure under the floodlights.

Reflecting on the victory, Minhas stated that he enjoyed the challenge of the high-pressure situation. He noted that the team needed someone to show belief that the target was achievable, and he focused on remaining calm throughout his innings.

The young cricketer has quickly established himself as a vital asset for Pakistan. Earlier in the tournament, he demonstrated his bowling prowess, and his recent form has drawn comparisons to legendary Pakistani all-rounders like Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

Minhas made his ODI debut against Australia in May, where he became the first Pakistani player to claim a five-wicket haul in his first match. His consistent contributions with both bat and ball have solidified his place in the senior squad.

His development has been supported by his family, particularly his father, Kashif, who invested in training facilities at their home in Multan. Minhas is now part of a talented cricketing family, with his younger brother Sameer recently earning a Test call-up.

The all-rounder remains focused on his long-term progress. He emphasized that while winning the tri-nation series is a significant achievement, his ultimate goal is to continue improving and contributing to future successes for the national team.

Speaking in Lahore on Friday ahead of the tri-nation series final against Sri Lanka, Agha addressed the controversial mid-series sackings that occurred during the team's previous Test campaign against England.

The 30-year-old expressed his hope that such drastic changes, which saw several senior players and coaching staff removed from the squad, would not be repeated in the future.

During the England series, the board made the surprise decision to axe seven cricketers, including Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, and Imam-ul-Haq, while also dismissing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.

The move, which occurred amid a period of poor performance, triggered significant internal upheaval and led to the subsequent resignation of former selector and academy consultant Misbah-ul-Haq.

Agha noted that the uncertainty caused by such decisions had a lasting impact on the players' morale, emphasising that dropping individuals midway through a series is detrimental to team culture.

"Dropping players midway through a series is not a good thing. I hope it won't happen again in the future," Agha told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

Turning his attention to the upcoming final, Agha expressed confidence in Pakistan's prospects, provided the team plays to its full potential against a competitive Sri Lankan side.

Pakistan has shown improved form throughout the current white-ball series, displaying consistency with both bat and ball on home soil, which has positioned them as favourites for the title.

Agha acknowledged that there are lingering concerns regarding the performance of the top-order batters, who have struggled to maintain the high scoring rates seen in previous years.

"If we play to our strengths, we can win the final comfortably. Our top order is not scoring runs the way it used to three or four years ago," he said.

The all-rounder also defended senior players Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, dismissing recent criticism and reaffirming his belief in their quality as world-class One Day International performers.

"Fakhar and Babar are among the best one-day players. They have won so many matches for Pakistan. Sometimes things do not go your way in cricket, and I think that is what is happening with them," Agha added.

Pakistan will look to secure the trophy on Saturday, with the team management hoping that the top order finds its rhythm in the series decider to provide a solid foundation.

The final is expected to draw significant attention as Pakistan aims to conclude the home series on a high note following a turbulent period for the national setup.

Agha described Babar and Fakhar as the finest ODI batters of the last decade, noting their significant contributions to Pakistan's victories over the years. While acknowledging that the top order has struggled to meet expectations during the current tournament, he expressed optimism that they would rise to the occasion in the final match.

The middle-order batter noted that the team has yet to reach its full potential despite securing a spot in the final. He echoed the coaching staff's sentiments, suggesting that the squad is capable of producing a much more dominant display of cricket than what has been seen in the group stages.

Discussing the team's batting strategy, Agha highlighted the need for players to convert their starts into substantial scores. He mentioned that the side aims to reach a total of 350 runs, which he believes is achievable if the batters can turn their half-centuries into centuries.

Agha also took time to praise teammate Shadab Khan for his recent match-winning contribution against England. He compared Shadab's innings to legendary performances in Pakistan's history, stating that such efforts are vital for the team's success in high-pressure situations.

Addressing the challenges of international cricket, Agha remarked that maintaining consistency is difficult for any player. He advocated for patience, suggesting that cricketers going through lean patches should be given adequate time to rediscover their rhythm rather than facing constant scrutiny.

Regarding the pressures of leadership, Agha noted that every captain faces unique challenges. He shared his own experience, stating that he feels significantly less pressure in his current role after stepping down from the captaincy, allowing him to focus entirely on his batting.

Agha emphasised that every international fixture is a serious commitment and that the team is fully focused on the task at hand. He reiterated that the squad remains confident in its ability to overcome Sri Lanka and lift the tri-nation series trophy.

The final, scheduled for Saturday in Lahore, represents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to conclude the tournament on a high note. The team has been preparing extensively to address the inconsistencies identified during the group matches.

The coaching staff has been working closely with the players to ensure they are mentally and physically prepared for the final. Agha's comments reflect a collective belief within the dressing room that the team is ready to deliver its best performance of the series.

Pakistan's journey to the final has been marked by both resilience and areas for improvement. The management is keen to see the top order provide a solid foundation, which has been a hallmark of successful Pakistan sides in the past.

Sri Lanka, having reached the final, will also be looking to challenge Pakistan across all departments. The match is expected to be a competitive encounter, with both sides eager to claim the title in front of the home crowd.

Agha's public support for the senior batters is seen as a move to boost morale within the camp. By publicly backing Babar and Fakhar, he aims to alleviate the pressure on the duo ahead of the decisive clash.

The team remains focused on executing their game plan, which involves aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. Agha noted that the players are aware of the expectations and are determined to perform for their supporters.

As the final approaches, the atmosphere in the Pakistan camp is one of focused determination. The team will be looking to capitalise on home advantage to secure a victory and end the tri-nation series as champions.

All-rounder Arafat Minhas delivered a phenomenal individual performance, registering his maiden One-Day International half-century before claiming a career-best six-wicket haul with his left-arm spin.

The convincing win follows Pakistan's opening victory over Sri Lanka by 37 runs, placing the hosts in a dominant position in the triangular tournament standings as the competition progresses.

Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 302 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, recovering from a tricky position during the middle overs of the innings.

England opening bowler Gus Atkinson made an immediate impact by dismissing Fakhar Zaman with the very first delivery of the match, caught by Joe Root at short mid-wicket without scoring a run.

Sonny Baker further compounded the early pressure by removing Saim Ayub for eight runs, leaving the home side struggling at 31 for two inside the opening powerplay overs.

Experienced batter Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Saad Baig steadied the ship with a patient partnership, guiding Pakistan through a challenging phase against disciplined English pace bowling.

Babar contributed a steady 34 runs, while Baig added 35 before both fell, leaving the innings on 133 for five and forcing the lower middle order to rebuild the total.

Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas answered the call with a crucial sixth-wicket partnership worth 78 runs, rescuing the innings and swinging momentum back toward the batting side.

Nawaz played an aggressive knock of 79 runs from 74 deliveries, striking five boundaries and four sixes before eventually being dismissed as England sought a breakthrough.

Minhas played a mature innings of 59 from 58 balls, hitting nine boundaries to anchor the innings and ensure Pakistan maintained a healthy scoring rate through the latter stages.

England's fielding lapsed during this crucial phase, dropping three catching opportunities that allowed the Pakistani lower order to consolidate their position in the middle.

Minhas then combined with Faheem Ashraf to add another vital partnership of 72 runs for the seventh wicket, accelerating the scoring rate significantly toward the end.

Ashraf contributed a brisk 39 runs from his time at the crease, featuring five fours and a six as Pakistan successfully added 91 runs during the final ten overs.

Sonny Baker finished as the pick of the English bowlers with figures of three for 65, while Atkinson claimed two wickets for 35 runs in his spell.

Facing a target of 303 for victory, England's run chase began brightly with openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett establishing a confident foundation at the top of the order.

The pair lifted the score to 120 for one, with Banton playing aggressively to score 57 runs from 53 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Duckett supported him capably with an innings of 45 runs, leaving the tourists seemingly well-positioned to chase down the target under the Rawalpindi floodlights.

However, the dismissal of the opening partnership triggered a dramatic collapse, as England lost their final nine wickets for the addition of just 95 runs.

Arafat Minhas sparked the dramatic turnaround with his left-arm spin, getting Banton caught from a miscued pull shot and removing the middle order with precision.

Minhas bowled England captain Harry Brook for five runs with a sharp turning delivery before trapping Jordan Cox lbw for 18 to dismantle the batting lineup.

The young spinner completed his second five-wicket haul in international cricket by dismissing Will Jacks for 19 and Jamie Overton for a single run.

Minhas capped off his memorable evening by running out the final English batter, ending the innings at 215 all out in 38.4 overs.

Pace bowler Naseem Shah contributed to the collapse by claiming the prized wicket of Joe Root for 33 runs, removing a key obstacle in the run chase.

Haris Rauf also chipped in with the important wicket of the dangerous Sam Curran for 27, ensuring the English tailenders faced sustained pressure.

Reflecting on the comprehensive victory, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praised the team's ongoing development ahead of major international tournaments next year.

As a team we have shown progress as we are looking to build towards next year's World Cup, Shaheen noted, highlighting the standout performances of his players.

The form of Arafat and the fast bowlers are good signs for us, the captain added, expressing satisfaction with the balance and execution of his squad.

On the opposing side, England skipper Harry Brook expressed frustration over his team's inability to maintain partnerships after a promising start to the innings.

We were quite happy by limiting them under 300, and then the openers set the tone beautifully, but we could not put on partnerships and ended up on the wrong side, Brook said.

The tri-nation series continues in Rawalpindi with England scheduled to face Sri Lanka in the third match of the tournament on Thursday.

Pakistan will look to maintain their unbeaten record and momentum when they return to action later in the series as preparation continues for upcoming global fixtures.