Left-arm spinner Asif Afridi is making his Test debut for Pakistan in the ongoing second red-ball match against the South African team at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The 38-year-and-299-day-old cricketer from Peshawar, who has played 57 first-class matches so far, in which he has picked up 198 wickets, including 13 five-wicket hauls in 95 innings, received his maiden Test cap from Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Asif Afridi replaced pacer Hasan Ali in Pakistan’s playing XI for the second match of the home series against the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) winners.
Pakistan Test Cap No.260 – Asif Afridi!#PAKvSA #PakCricket pic.twitter.com/RZsBTe6NqS
— Rai M. Azlan (@Mussanaf) October 20, 2025
By getting a chance to play his first Test at the age of 38 years
and 299 days, Asif Afridi on Monday (October 20) became the third oldest player to make a Test debut for Pakistan.
The oldest player to make a Test debut for Pakistan is Miran Bakhsh. Miran Bakhsh was 47 years and 284 days old when he played his first red-ball match for the Pakistani team against India in Lahore on January 29, 1955.
Amir Elahi made his Pakistan debut at 44 years and 45 days against India in Delhi on October 16, 1952, five years after his Test debut for India against Australia in Sydney on December 12, 1947.
Oldest players to make Test debut for Pakistan
| PLAYER | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | START DATE |
| Miran Bakhsh | 47 years, 284 days | India | Lahore | January 29, 1955 |
| Amir Elahi | 44 years, 45 days | India | Delhi | October 16, 1952 |
| Asif Afridi | 38 years, 299 days | South Africa | Rawalpindi | October 20, 2025 |
| Tabish Khan | 36 years, 146 days | Zimbabwe | Harare | May 7, 2021 |
| Gul Mohammad | 34 years, 362 days | Australia | Karachi | October 11, 1956 |
He is overall the second oldest player to make a Test debut.
The record of being the oldest player to make a Test debut is in the name of James Southerton. Southerton was 49 years and 119 days old when he played his first Test for England against Australia in Melbourne on March 15, 1877.
10 oldest Test debutants
| PLAYER | TEAM | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| James Southerton | England | 49 years, 119 days | Australia | Melbourne | March 15, 1877 |
| Miran Bakhsh | Pakistan | 47 years, 284 days | India | Lahore | January 29, 1955 |
| Don Blackie | Australia | 46 years, 253 days | England | Sydney | December 14, 1928 |
| Bert Ironmonger | Australia | 46 years, 237 days | England | Brisbane | November 30, 1928 |
| Nelson Betancourt | West Indies | 42 years, 242 days | England | Port of Spain | February 1, 1930 |
| Rockley Wilson | England | 41 years, 337 days | Australia | Sydney | February 25, 1921 |
| Rustomji Jamshedji | India | 41 years, 27 days | England | Mumbai | December 15, 1933 |
| Archie Wiles | West Indies | 40 years, 345 days | England | Manchester | July 22, 1933 |
| Omar Henry | South Africa | 40 years, 295 days | India | Durban | November 13, 1992 |
| Sep Kinneir | England | 40 years, 216 days | Australia | Sydney | December 15, 1911 |
In the 21st century, the oldest player to make a Test debut is Ed Joyce. Joyce was 39 years and 231 days old when he played his first Test for Ireland against Pakistan in Dublin (Malahide) on May 11, 2018.
Oldest players to make Test debut in 21st century (since January 1, 2000)
| PLAYER | TEAM | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Ed Joyce | Ireland | 39 years, 231 days | Pakistan | Dublin (Malahide) | May 11, 2018 |
| Asif Afridi | Pakistan | 38 years, 299 days | South Africa | Rawalpindi | October 20, 2025 |
| Shaun von Berg | South Africa | 37 years, 150 days | New Zealand | Hamilton | February 13, 2024 |
| Bryce McGain | Australia | 36 years, 359 days | South Africa | Cape Town | March 19, 2009 |
| Tim Murtagh | Ireland | 36 years, 282 days | Pakistan | Dublin (Malahide) | May 11, 2018 |
| Shaun Udal | England | 36 years, 239 days | Pakistan | Multan | November 12, 2005 |
| Niall O’Brien | Ireland | 36 years, 184 days | Pakistan | Dublin (Malahide) | May 11, 2018 |
| Tabish Khan | Pakistan | 36 years, 146 days | Zimbabwe | Harare | May 7, 2021 |
Pakistan’s playing XI for 2nd Test against South Africa: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Asif Afridi
