PAK vs SA: Asif Afridi Shatters 92-Year-Old Test Record, Becomes Oldest Bowler To Take Fifer On Debut

Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd Test: Pakistan's spinner Asif Afridi created history and entered his name in the ecord books on the back of a sensational performance with the ball during the second and final Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. He became the oldest bowler in history to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

The 38-year-and-301-day-old cricketer from Peshawar picked up two wickets on Day 2 of the ongoing Test and dismissed three more South African batters in the morning session of Day 3. The oldest player to take a five-for on Test debut before Asif Afridi was England leg-spinner Charles Marriott.

Charles Marriott was 37 years and 332 days old when he made his Test debut for the English team against the West Indies at The Oval on August 12, 1933, and picked up 5 wickets for 37 runs in 11.5 overs of the first innings on Day 2. In the second innings, he finished with the bowling effort of 6 for 59 in 29.2 overs.

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Oldest bowlers to take five-wicket haul on Test debut

Asif Afridi (PAK) vs SA: 38 years, 301 days in 2025

Charles Marriott (ENG) vs WI: 37 years, 333 days in 1933

Charles Marriott (ENG) vs WI: 37 years, 344 days in 1933

Hines Johnson (WI) vs ENG: 37 years, 259 days in 1948

Hines Johnson (WI) vs ENG: 37 years, 263 days in 1948

John Traicos was 45 years and 215 days old when he picked up 5 wickets for 86 runs on his Test debut for Zimbabwe against India in Harare on October 18, 1992. But he had played three Tests for South Africa before making an international appearance for Zimbabwe.

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Bert Ironmonger is the oldest player to take a five-wicket haul in Test cricket history. The Australian spinner was 49 years and 311 days old when he produced an effort of 6 wickets for 18 runs against South Africa in Melbourne on February 12, 1932.

Oldest bowlers to take five-wicket haul in Tests

Bert Ironmonger (AUS) vs SA: 49 years, 311 days in 1932

Don Blackie (AUS) vs ENG: 46 years, 268 days in 1928

John Traicos (ZIM) vs IND: 45 years, 154 days in 1992

Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) vs SA: 44 years, 65 days in 1936

Frank Woolley (ENG) vs NZ: 42 years, 242 days in 1930

Notably, the record of being the oldest bowler to take a five-wicket haul for Pakistan is held by spinner Noman Ali. Noman was 39 years and 5 days old when he picked up 6 wickets for 112 runs against South Africa in the first innings of the first Test of the ongoing series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan reduced the Proteas to 285/8 in their first innings at the end of the first session on the third day. Earlier, the hosts were bowled out for 333 after opting to bat first.

PAK vs SA Playing XIs, 2nd Test

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Asif Afridi

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada