RAWALPINDI – Asif Afridi has become the oldest cricketer to bag five wickets or more on Test debut, breaking a 92-year-old record.
38-year-old left-arm spinner bagged six wickets for 79 runs in the second Test against South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
In 1933, Charles Marriott set the record by taking five five-wicket hauls at the age of 37.
Afridi is now also part of the list of Pakistani bowlers who made a memorable entry into Test cricket with five wickets or more.
In 1964, Arif Butt became the first Pakistani bowler to achieve the feat, taking six wickets against Australia at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1969, Mohammad Nazir took seven wickets in his debut Test against New Zealand in Karachi.
In 1996, fast bowler Shahid Nazir took five wickets against Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura. Mohammad Zahid stunned New Zealand with a seven-wicket haul at Rawalpindi Cricket Ground.
Two years later, Shahid Afridi took five wickets against Australia in Karachi. In 2001, Mohammad Sami took five wickets against New Zealand in Auckland. Two years later, Shabbir Ahmed bagged five wickets against Bangladesh in Karachi.
In 2007, Yasir Arafat claimed five wickets against India in Bengaluru. Three years later, Wahab Riaz picked up five wickets against England at The Oval, while Tanvir Ahmed took six wickets against South Africa in Abu Dhabi.
In 2018, Bilal Asif grabbed six wickets against Australia in Dubai. In 2021, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took five wickets against South Africa in Karachi. One year later, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed took seven wickets against England in Multan.
In 2023, Aamir Jamal grabbed six wickets against Australia in Perth. Now, Asif Afridi is the latest entry in the list of bowlers who impressed in their debut Tests.
