- By Gurmeet Batra
- Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
PAK vs SA 2nd Test: Veteran spinner Asif Afridi received a second chance to redeem himself at the age of 38 as Pakistan handed him his Test debut cap against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Monday, just six months after completing a spot-fixing ban.
Afridi received his maiden Test cap from pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi, a landmark that came after an outstanding first-class career of 57 matches and 198 wickets.
Afridi has been preferred over the seasoned Abrar Ahmed to partner Pakistan's regular spinners, southpaw Noman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
With the Test cap, Afridi carved his name in Pakistan cricket history, becoming the third-oldest Test debutant for Pakistan at 38 years and 299 days.
Miran Bakhsh remains Pakistan's oldest Test debutant, having featured in his first Test against India in Lahore at the age of 47 years and 284 days way back in 1955.
Notably, Amir Elahi holds a unique record, debuting for India in 1947 and later featuring for Pakistan in 1952, making his debut for Pakistan at 44 years and 45 days old.
The 38-year-old was handed a one-year ban for his involvement in spot fixing in domestic cricket and served six months before being allowed back by the Pakistan Cricket Board, which has however, not given any reason for relaxing the ban on him.
Afridi's selection means that the team management has opted to play two left- arm spinners in the second Test as he will pair with Noman Ali, who is already established and also picked up a 10-wicket haul in Pakistan's 94-run win in the first game in Lahore.
Pakistan are only playing one fast bowler in Shaheen Shah Afridi. South Africa have also been boosted by the return of left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test due to fitness issues.
The visitors, after losing the first Test, have also opted to play tall left-arm pacer, Marco Jansen, while leaving out Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen.
(With PTI Inputs)