ISLAMABAD: Pakistan spinner Asif Afridi has created a new world record, becoming the oldest player in history to claim a five-wicket haul on debut.

The 38-year-old left-arm spinner returned figures of 6-79 against South Africa in Rawalpindi, surpassing a record that had stood for more than 90 years. The previous mark was held by England’s Charles Marriott, who took five wickets on debut at the age of 37 in 1933.

Afridi also became the sixth Pakistani spinner to achieve the feat, joining Mohammad Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Bilal Asif, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed.

The late-blooming spinner’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Afridi made his first-class debut back in 2009 but spent years outside the national setup. In 2023, he was handed a two-year ban for breaching the PCB’s anti-corruption code, serving one year before his suspension was lifted.

Returning to the field, Afridi’s accuracy and deceptive sliders rattled South Africa’s middle order. He struck early on Day 3, dismissing Kyle Verreynne for 10, before trapping Tristan Stubbs' leg-before for 76 with a straight delivery that skidded on. He completed his five-wicket haul when Simon Harmer was hit on the back leg while attempting a sweep.

South Africa, who resumed the day on 230-6, went on to score 404 runs, thanks to an 89-run innings from Senuran Muthusamy and a quickfire 71 from No. 11 Kagiso Rabada.

Pakistan leads the two-match Test series 1-0 after winning the opener in Lahore last week.

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Asif Afridi makes history as oldest Test debutant with five-wicket haul