RAWALPINDI (Kashmir English): Spinner Asif Afridi became the second-oldest Test debutant for Pakistan as the side faced South Africa in the second Test here on Monday.
Afridi replaced pacer Hasan Ali in the playing XI and joined Pakistan’s spin attack alongside Sajid Khan and Noman Ali.
The hosts have fielded only one pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, in the second Test, suggesting the side would be relying on spin attack on the Rawalpindi surface.
Debut at 38
Asif Afridi made his debut at 38 years and 299 days to become Pakistan’s second-oldest man to earn a Test cap for the country since Miran Baksh, who debuted at 47 back in 1955.
Having made his first-class debut in 2009, Afridi endured a long break before re-emerging in 2015 and established himself as a consistent performer in domestic cricket.
In 57 first-class matches, Afridi has taken 198 wickets at an average of 25.49, alongside scoring 1,630 runs, including a century, presenting himself as a lower-order contributor.
South Africa welcomed back Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test due to injury, while Marco Jansen returned to the side as well.
