Pakistan have awarded a Test cap to 39-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi for the second Test against South Africa, which began Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Afridi’s selection comes as a surprise, as he was chosen ahead of the experienced Abrar Ahmed to join Pakistan’s spin attack alongside Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.
The veteran spinner’s international comeback follows a turbulent phase in his career. Afridi was handed a one-year suspension by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his involvement in a spot-fixing case during domestic cricket. However, he served only six months of the ban before being reinstated. The PCB has not publicly clarified the reason behind the early relaxation of his suspension.
Afridi’s inclusion marks a remarkable turnaround for the late-blooming cricketer, who now has an opportunity to make his mark in the longest format of the game at the age of 39.
