Pakistan spinner Asif Afridi etched his name into history when he claimed five wickets in his very first Test, doing so at the age of 38 years and 299 days. Facing South Africa in Rawalpindi, the veteran delivered a poised display that swung the match in Pakistan’s favour early on.
By achieving this, Afridi surpassed England’s Charles Marriott, who set the previous record in 1933 at 37 years and 332 days. That means a 92-year-old milestone finally tumbled, highlighting Afridi’s perseverance and reminding everyone that age is no barrier when skill and experience align.
In that memorable innings, Afridi finished with figures of 5 for 67, mixing flight and subtle turn to trouble the Proteas’ top order. He struck early, dismissing two set batsmen before tea, then cleaned up the tail with tight lines. His calm under pressure earned praise from teammates and pundits alike.
Selection critics were stunned when Afridi, long overlooked in favour of younger spinners, received his Test cap. His debut performance has silenced doubters and given the team a potent new weapon. In the dressing room, celebrations mixed relief with admiration as senior players lauded his commitment. The media and fans hailed it as a remarkable late-career breakthrough.
Looking ahead, Pakistan will hope Afridi can maintain this form as the Test series unfolds. His record-breaking start has already boosted team morale and given fans something to cheer. Whatever comes next, Asif Afridi’s name is now forever part of cricketing folklore.
