Pakistan has given Asif Afridi a chance to debut for the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi. Left-arm spinner Asif Afridi has now become the second oldest player to debut in Test cricket for Pakistan.
The experienced spinner has been plying his trade in first-class cricket since 2009. So far, he has played 57 first-class matches and taken 198 wickets at an average of around 25. A useful lower-order batsman, Asif Afridi has also scored over 1600 runs in red ball cricket, including one hundred and eight fifties. In white-ball cricket, he has played 60 List A games and 85 T20s.
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Asif Afridi has become the second oldest debutant for Pakistan
As Asif Afridi got his first Test cap from his young teammate Shaheen Afridi, he became the second oldest player to debut for Pakistan in the longest format of the game. Meeran Bakhsh is still the oldest Test debutant for Pakistan.
Asif Afridi got test cap from Shaheen Shah Afridi pic.twitter.com/7yNfvDcIpr
– Junaz (@dhilllow_) 20 October 2025
Bakhsh played his first Test against India in 1955 at the age of 47 years and 284 days. Whereas Afridi made his debut at the age of 38 years 299 days. The overall record is held by James Southerton of England, who made his Test debut in 1877 at the age of 49 years and 119 days.
Oldest players to make Test debut (Top 10):
| player | age | Team | Oppose | match date |
| jay southerton | 49y 119d | England | vs australia | 15 March 1877 |
| Meeran Baksh | 47y 284d | Pakistan | vs india | 29 January 1955 |
| D.D. blackie | 46y 253d | Australia | vs England | 14 December 1928 |
| H Ironmonger | 46y 237d | Australia | vs England | 30 November 1928 |
| Ann Betancourt | 42y 242d | west indies | vs England | 1 February 1930 |
| ER Wilson | 41y 337d | England | vs australia | 25 February 1921 |
| RJD Jamshedji | 41 years 27 days | India | vs England | 15 December 1933 |
| ca wills | 40y 345d | west indies | vs England | 22 July 1933 |
| Hey Henry! | 40y 295d | South Africa | vs india | 13 November 1992 |
| SP Kinneer | 40y 216d | England | vs australia | 15 December 1911 |
Meanwhile, Pakistan has made one change in its playing eleven for the second Test against South Africa. Afridi has replaced fast bowler Hasan Ali in the team. Hasan Ali faced the all-out after failing to take any wickets in the first Test against the Proteas.
On the other hand, South Africa has made two changes in its team combination. Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj have been recalled to the playing eleven, while Wiaan Mulder and Prenellan Subrayan are out.
Playing XI for the second test:
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Tony De Zorzi, Dewald Brewis, Kyle Verreynne (w), Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Aga, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Asif Afridi.
