Pakistan's Asif Afridi became the oldest bowler to pick five wickets on Test debut. (AP Photo)Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi on Wednesday became the oldest bowler in Test history to bag a five-wicket haul on debut, achieving the feat on the third day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi.
Afridi recorded the landmark when he dismissed South Africa spinner Simon Harmer leg-before on 10, reducing the visitors to 210 for seven in their pursuit of Pakistan’s first-innings score of 333.
Afridi broke a 92-year-old world record held by England’s Charles Marriott who picked two five-wicket hauls on debut against the West Indies on successive days at the Oval in 1933. Marriott was 37 years and 334 days old when he bagged the feat, nearly a year younger than Afridi who is 38 years and 301 days old as of Wednesday.
Afridi surpassed the Pakistan record held by his current teammate Noman Ali, who claimed figures of 5/35 against the Proteas during his Test debut in 2021.
The remarkable record for the oldest player to achieve a five-wicket haul in Test cricket belongs to the Australian spin bowler, Bert Ironmonger. He was 49 years and 311 days old when he accomplished this feat by taking 6 wickets for just 18 runs against South Africa in Melbourne on February 12, 1932.
38 YEARS OLD ASIF AFRIDI GETS A FIFER ON TEST DEBUT! 🤩🙌 pic.twitter.com/phz8KJqVdj
— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) October 22, 2025
Afridi’s teammate Noman also continues to hold the record as the oldest bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul for Pakistan. The spinner was 39 years and 5 days old when he claimed 6 wickets for 112 runs against South Africa. He set this mark during the first innings of the ongoing series’ first Test, played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
| PLAYER | TEAM | AGE | VERSUS | GROUND | YEAR |
| Bert Ironmonger | Australia | 49 years, 311 days | South Africa | Melbourne | 1932 |
| Don Blackie | Australia | 46 years, 268 days | England | Melbourne | 1928 |
| John Traicos | Zimbabwe | 45 years, 154 days | India | Harare | 1992 |
| Clarrie Grimmett | Australia | 44 years, 65 days | South Africa | Durban | 1936 |
| Frank Woolley | England | 42 years, 242 days | New Zealand | Wellington | 1930 |
From ban to debut
Afridi’s selection by the PCB had raised eyeballs after the 38-year-old left-armer was once banned for two years for his involvement in spot-fixing in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. However, he was allowed to return after serving just over a year of the ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board, who had not given any reason for relaxing the suspension. This is Afridi’s first ever international appearance. He made his first class debut in January 2009 and has taken 198 wickets in 57 matches. Afridi has also taken 83 wickets in 60 List A matches and 78 wickets in 85 T20s.
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