Yasir Arafat is an all-rounder of typically Pakistani ethos; ideal for ODI cricket but also you suspect capable of occasionally critical feats in Test matches. He is useful as a lower-order plunderer - he averages nearly 27 at first-class level though his bowling remains much his stronger suit.

His type of straight, full, skiddy bowling courtesy a slingy action accounted for Andrew Flintoff's wicket at an ODI in Karachi in December 2005. It has also helped him to nine wickets against England in a warm-up game earlier during the same series and it once accounted for five wickets in six balls in a domestic game in December 2004 (four of the five were either leg-before or bowled), a feat performed by only three other bowlers. He can generate pace and when conditions are helpful, swing.

He has good experience of English conditions; having played league cricket and for Scotland, he was recruited by Sussex in the 2006 Championship season. In his first three games, he took 17 wickets with two five-wicket hauls as well as scoring a couple of fifties. He has been on the fringes of the Pakistan squad for a number of years though given the allrounders ahead of him - Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi and even Shoaib Malik - he isn't likely to become a permanent member anytime soon.

An impressive start to the 2007 county season with Kent, where he starred with ball as well the bat, saw Arafat being awarded a central contract for the first time. With injuries to Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul, Arafat was called up as replacement and made his Test debut against India at Bangalore in December 2007.
Cricinfo Staff December 2007