Pakistan's second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi marked a special moment for left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who finally earned his maiden Test cap at the age of 38 years and 299 days.
A domestic veteran with nearly two decades of first-class experience, Afridi replaced pacer Hasan Ali in the playing XI and became one of the oldest debutants in Pakistan's cricket history.
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His selection reflects both Pakistan's spin needs and the rewarding of consistent performers from the domestic circuit. In this article, let's take a look at where he ranks in the list of oldest Test debutants.
Who are the oldest Test debutants in the 21st century?
Afridi's long-awaited debut came courtesy of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who handed him his Test cap ahead of the Rawalpindi fixture.
With 198 wickets and 13 five-wicket hauls in 57 first-class matches, the Peshawar-born spinner has long been a consistent name on the domestic scene.
Asif Afridi's debut has come in unlikely circumstances, and there is no doubt that he is one of the oldest players to debut in this form of the game.
In fact, since the turn of the century, Afridi is the second-oldest debutant in Test cricket, only behind Ireland's Ed Joyce who was playing his country's first Test match in 2018.
| Name | Age | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Joyce* | 39y 231d | Ireland | Dublin | 2018 |
| Asif Afridi | 38y 299d | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2025 |
| Shaun von Berg | 37y 150d | South Africa | Hamilton | 2024 |
| Bryce McGain | 36y 359d | Australia | Cape Town | 2009 |
| Tim Murtagh* | 36y 282d | Ireland | Dublin | 2018 |
| Shaun Udal | 36y 239d | England | Multan | 2005 |
| Niall O'Brien* | 36y 184d | Ireland | Dublin | 2018 |
| Tabish Khan | 36y 146d | Pakistan | Harare | 2021 |
| Adam Voges | 35y 242d | Australia | Roseau | 2015 |
| Noor Ali Zadran | 35y 207d | Afghanistan | Colombo | 2024 |
*played in their country's first Test match
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Top 5 oldest Pakistanis to make a Test debut
By debuting at 38 years and 299 days, Asif now stands as Pakistan's second-oldest Test debutant, behind Miran Bakhsh.
| Name | Age | Venue | Year |
| Miran Bakhsh | 47y 284d | Lahore | 1955 |
| Asif Afridi | 38y 299d | Rawalpindi | 2025 |
| Tabish Khan | 36y 146d | Harare | 2021 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 34y 308d | Abu Dhabi | 2013 |
| Zahid Mahmood | 34y 256d | Rawalpindi | 2022 |
Who are the oldest Test debutants of all time?
In the history of Test cricket, a total of 13 players have made their debuts aged 40 and above. The oldest of all time is England's James Southerton, who played at the age of 49 in the first-ever Test match in 1877, and was also the first Test cricketer to pass away.
| Name | Age | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Southerton* | 49y 119d | England | Melbourne | 1877 |
| Miran Bakhsh | 47y 284d | Pakistan | Lahore | 1955 |
| Don Blackie | 46y 253d | Australia | Sydney | 1928 |
| Bert Ironmonger | 46y 237d | Australia | Brisbane | 1928 |
| Nelson Betancourt | 42y 242d | West Indies | Port of Spain | 1930 |
| Rockley Wilson | 41y 337d | England | Sydney | 1921 |
| Rustomji Jamshedji | 41y 27d | India | Mumbai | 1933 |
| Archie Wiles | 40y 345d | West Indies | Manchester | 1933 |
| Omar Henry | 40y 295d | South Africa | Durban | 1992 |
| Sep Kinneir | 40y 216d | England | Sydney | 1911 |
*played in their country's first Test match
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