RAWALPINDI: Asif Afridi has made sure that he will not be the only oldest player to have made a Test debut for Pakistan at record age 38 years and 299 days.
He is the third most experienced player of the list of Test debutants of Pakistan if former Pakistani player Aamir Elahi, who played for India originally, is included.
Asif Afridi is a left-arm spinner who was introduced into first-class cricket in 2009. Though he played only three games in his first season, he went out of circulation until 2015 when he made a phenomenal comeback to the domestic scene.
Asif has claimed 198 wickets at 25.49 average from 57 first-class games so far.
His record is often compared to the record of South African spin bowler Simon Harmer who is 36 years and 992 wickets in 233 first-class matches at a strike rate of 26.43.
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Before the time, Asif’s tardiness to international cricket but testifies to the fact that age does not matter where performance is at stake: it was his debut that proved to be a thunderous proclamation of his patience and devotion, that talent, irrespective of the time when it comes, can make a difference that lasts.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday appointed Shaheen Afridi as captain to lead the Pakistan cricket team in one-day Internationals (ODIs).
The PCB announced the decision after a crucial meeting held in Islamabad on Monday. The meeting was attended by the PCB top office designatories and selection committee members.
PCB in a statement said that Shaheen Afridi would lead the team in South Africa matches.
