At 38, an age when many cricketers are reflecting on their careers, left-arm spinner Asif Afridi experienced the moment he had always dreamed of. “When the captain told me I would be debuting tomorrow, I couldn’t sleep all night from happiness,” Afridi shared, describing the overwhelming emotion of earning his first Test cap. He added that his family was overjoyed by the news.
Making his debut against South Africa, Afridi demonstrated immediate impact. He carried his domestic form onto the international stage, delivering an impressive performance that earned him 6 wickets in the first innings. “My effort was to bowl on a good line, just as I do in domestic cricket, and thankfully, it went well,” he said.
However, this professional high is intertwined with deep personal concern for Afridi as a father. He revealed that one of his five children, his daughter who is a special child, has been hospitalized for the last two days.
“I am very worried about her,” he admitted. “God willing, if we win this match, I will dedicate my performance to my daughter.”
Afridi’s outstanding debut at this age is not only inspiring but also record-breaking. He shattered a 92-year-old record, previously held by England’s Charles Marriott, to become the oldest cricketer in history to take 5 wickets on a Test debut.
