Rawalpindi, October 22, 2025: Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Asif Afridi etched his name into cricketing history on Wednesday by becoming the oldest player ever to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut, achieving the feat at 38 years and 299 days during the second Test against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Afridi broke a 92-year-old record previously held by England’s Charles Marriott, who had taken five wickets on debut at 37 years and 332 days against the West Indies at The Oval in 1933.
Only four players aged over 35 have managed a five-for on debut in Test history. Alongside Afridi and Marriott, the rare list includes Hines Johnson of the West Indies (vs England, 1948) and D.W. Carr of England (vs Australia, 1909). Afridi, however, stands alone as the only player to achieve the milestone after turning 38.
Among Pakistani bowlers, Noman Ali had previously taken five wickets on debut at the age of 34 against South Africa in 2021, while Bilal Asif did so at 33.
At stumps on day three, Pakistan were 94-4 in 35 overs, leading by 23 runs, with Babar Azam unbeaten on 49 off 83 balls and Mohammad Rizwan on 16 off 49.
Earlier, South Africa’s lower order staged a remarkable fightback through Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada, helping the visitors recover from 235-8 to 404 all out, securing a 71-run first-innings lead.
