Follow UsAt 38 years and 299 days, left-arm spinner Asif Afridi became the third-oldest Test debutant for Pakistan when he received his maiden cap during the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi on October 20 (Monday).
The record for the oldest Pakistani Test debutant remains with Miran Bakhsh, who was 47 years and 284 days old when he played against India in Lahore in January 1955.
Another notable case is Amir Elahi, who debuted for India against Australia in Sydney in 1947 at 39 years and 102 days. But after partition, Elahi moved to Pakistan and played five more Tests, making his Pakistan debut against India in Delhi in October 1952 at the age of 44 years and 45 days.
Overall, the oldest Test debutant in cricket history is England’s James Southerton, who made his debut at 49 years and 119 days.
Afridi, making his first appearance for Pakistan, comes into the Test arena with strong first-class credentials: 198 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 25.49, including 13 five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls.
Pakistan currently lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. For the second Test, South Africa have made changes to their XI, bringing in Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj in place of Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen.