Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Asif Afridi made cricketing history on Wednesday by becoming the oldest player to claim a five-wicket haul on his Test debut.At 38 years old, Afridi reached this exceptional landmark on the third day of the second Test against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, surpassing a record that had remained untouched for nearly a century.
Afridi’s outstanding bowling spell tore through South Africa’s middle order, sending back Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, and Simon Harmer.With his age being 38 years and 301 days, Afridi overtook England’s Charles Marriott, who had held the record since 1933 after taking five wickets on debut at 37 years and 332 days.
The experienced spinner now becomes part of a distinguished list of players above 35 who have secured a five-wicket haul in their first Test appearance.This elite list features Hines Johnson of the West Indies (1948) and England’s D.W. Carr (1909), but Afridi stands out as the only one to achieve it after crossing 38.
For Pakistan, his accomplishment is among the most uncommon. Only Noman Ali, who managed a five-for on debut at 34 against South Africa in 2021, and Bilal Asif, who did the same at 33, have come close to this rare distinction.
