STATS: PAKISTAN'S ASIF AFRIDI BECOMES THE OLDEST BOWLER TO BAD FIVE WICKETS ON TEST DEBUT, BREAKS 92-YEAR OLD RECORD IN RWALPINDI

PAK vs SA: 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.

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.

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. List A matches and 78 wickets in 85 T20s.

- Sports Desk, The Indian Express 

PAKISTANI SPINNER NORMAN ALI TAKES HISTORIC TEST HAT-TRICK AS WINDIES COLLAPSE

Veteran Pakistan tweaker Noman Ali became the fifth male bowler from his country to take a Test hat-trick and the first male spinner of his nationality to do so in a destruction of the West Indies on Saturday.

The West Indies' tail-enders wagged in Multan to propel the touring side to 163 in the second match of the two-Test series, but at one stage the visitors were reeling at 7-38 and in danger of being skittled for their lowest total in Test history, which remains the 47 they were rolled for by England in Kingston in 2004.

Ali, a left-arm orthodox bowler featuring in his 19th Test at the age of 38, snared the first wicket of his hat-trick when he drew Justin Greaves forward and had him caught at second slip, removing him for 1.

The finger spinner took the second wicket of his hat-trick when he lulled Tevin Imlach into sweeping and trapped him lbw. The Pakistanis screamed at Australian umpire Paul Reiffel for a long time, but his finger eventually went up.

And Ali completed his hat-trick when he claimed the wicket of Kevin Sinclair, who perished in similar fashion to Greaves.

The hat-trick hero broke into a celebratory sprint with his hands thrust above his head as his teammates swamped him at Multan Cricket Stadium.

The only other Pakistani men who've taken a Test hat-trick are Wasim Akram (the legendary left-armer did so twice), Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami and Naseem Shah.

Shaiza Khan, a Pakistani leg-spinner in women's cricket in the 1990s and 2000s, also took a Test hat-trick.

The previous man of any nationality to take a Test hat-trick was England quick Gus Atkinson, who stunned New Zealand in Wellington in December.

In Multan on Saturday, the West Indies' No.9, No.10 and No.11 made the visitors' highest scores of the innings, with Gudakesh Motie chalking up 55, Kemar Roach 25 and Jomel Warrican an unbeaten 36.

The only other West Indies batter who reached double digits was No.4 Kavem Hodge, who lost his wicket for 21.

The West Indies collapsed from 2-32 to 7-38, then were bowled out for 163 in the 42nd over.

Ali finished with the figures of 6-41, but the best Test innings figures of his career remain the 8-46 he took against England at the same ground in October.

- Zachary Gates