Arafat is poised to make his debut for a province that has had some useful overseas players grace its teams.
Last summer, batsman VVS Laxman made a cameo appearance while on tour with the Indian side.
He contributed scores of 20 and 44 but made a bigger impact in the dressing room.
England pace bowler Neil Mallender was a wonderful servant of Otago cricket, playing 10 seasons between 1983-84 and 1992-93.
In that time he took 268 wickets and scored 1872 runs and is still talked about fondly.
Jonathan Trott also had a huge impact on the field, especially in one-dayers.
The South African-born batting all-rounder had a golden summer in 2005-06, scoring 455 runs at an average of 91 and taking 14 wickets at 19.55.
Trott, of course, scored a century on debut for England against Australia in the Ashes series earlier this year.
News English import Dimitri Mascarenhas had signed to play for Otago in the twenty/20 tournament last season generated plenty of excitement.
His reputation as one of the biggest hitters in the game no doubt helped the marketing team, and his efforts on the field helped the Volts claim the title.
Arafat's record would suggest a successful summer in New Zealand.
In 159 first-class matches he has taken 638 wickets at an average of 24.04, including 37 five-wicket bags, and scored 5533 runs at 26.85.
The 27-year-old has also played three tests and 11 ODIs.
Bopara is no slouch either.
He averages more than 42 in first-class cricket and has three test centuries to his name.
It should be an interesting battle within a battle, and with Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan plying his trade for Northern Districts in the twenty/20 tournament this season, there is some exciting talent to watch.
There is no doubt Arafat strengthens the side and few can blame Otago, or Auckland and Northern Districts for that matter, for wanting to field the best team possible.
But his inclusion does come at a cost.
For the likes of Sam Wells, Mat Harvie or James McMillan, Arafat's presence could mean the difference between playing or watching from the sideline.
Wells has a shoulder injury and was not considered for today's match.
But he is the type of player who has the most to lose.
The University-Grange all-rounder is having a breakthrough year after having slogged away on the fringe of the side for several summers.
He has taken 14 first-class wickets this season, including two five-wicket bags, and scored his maiden 100 against Wellington in Queenstown earlier this month.
While some of the major associations do not have a lot of bowling depth, Otago is one of the few exceptions.
South African-born Neil Wagner and experienced medium pacer Warren McSkimming are firmly entrenched in the starting XI, as is bowling all-rounder Ian Butler.
But Harvie, McMillan and the fast-improving Anthony Bullick could be hard pressed to make the side, especially once Black Cap off spinner Nathan McCullum returns from injury.
Otago v Auckland
Colin Maiden Park, Auckland, today
Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Shaun Haig, Neil Broom, Darren Broom, Sean Eathorne, Derek de Boorder, Yasir Arafat, Ian Butler, Warren McSkimming, Neil Wagner, Anthony Bullick, Nick Beard.
Auckland: Richard Jones, Reece Young, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Anaru Kitchen, Ronnie Hira, Greg Morgan, Keeley Todd, Richard Sherlock, Michael Bates, Andrew de Boorder, Bhupinder Singh.
