Asif Afridi Makes Pakistan Test Debut at 38 Years and 299 Days, Becomes Third Oldest Player in History

Left-arm spinner Asif Afridi is making his Test debut for Pakistan in the second red-ball match against South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The 38-year-and-299-day-old player from Peshawar has played 57 first-class matches. He has taken 198 wickets, including 13 five-wicket hauls in 95 innings. He received his first Test cap from Shaheen Shah Afridi. Asif Afridi replaced pacer Hasan Ali in Pakistan’s playing XI for the second match of the home series against the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) winners.

By playing his first Test at the age of 38 years and 299 days on Monday, October 20, Asif Afridi became the third-oldest player to make a Test debut for Pakistan.

The oldest player to make a Test debut for Pakistan is Miran Bakhsh. He was 47 years and 284 days old when he played his first Test against India in Lahore on January 29, 1955.

Amir Elahi made his Pakistan debut at 44 years and 45 days against India in Delhi on October 16, 1952. He had earlier played a Test for India against Australia on December 12, 1947.

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Oldest Test Debutants for Pakistan:

He is the second oldest player overall to make a Test debut. The oldest Test debutant in the world is James Southerton. He was 49 years and 119 days old when he played his first Test for England against Australia in Melbourne on March 15, 1877.

Oldest Test Debutants in the 21st Century

The oldest player in the 21st century to make a Test debut is Ed Joyce. He was 39 years and 231 days old when he played for Ireland against Pakistan in Dublin on May 11, 2018.

Pakistan’s Playing XI for 2nd Test vs South Africa

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Asif Afridi