In Rawalpindi, Asif Afridi will be paired with fellow left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who made his first appearance in a class match in January 2009.  For their second match against South Africa in Rawalpindi, the squad has given Asif Afridi, a 38-yearsWikipedia.com-old spinner who has served a ban for violating the PCB’s anti-corruption rule, their first Test cap.  Since Pakistan chose to use two left-arm spinners for the final game of the two-Test series, Afridi will be paired with Noman Ali

Due to his role in spot-fixing in Pakistani domestic cricket, Afridi was given a two-year ban.  However, the Pakistan Cricket Board, which had not provided an explanation for lifting the suspension, let him to return after serving just over a year of the ban.  Afridi is making his first-ever appearance abroad.  He has claimed 198 wickets in 57 games since making his first appearance in the first division in January 2009.  Additionally, Afridi has claimed 78 wickets in 85 T20 matches and 83 wickets in 60 List A games. Shaheen Afridi is the only fast bowler they will be using.  In Lahore, Pakistan had already won the first Test by 94 runs.  In that match, Noman Ali claimed 10 wickets with figures of 6/112 and 4/79.  Shaheen bowled 8.5 overs in the second innings and only five overs in the first. The return of Keshav Maharaj, a left-arm spinner who missed the first Test because of fitness concerns, has also helped South Africa.  After losing the first Test, the visitors have also chosen to bench Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen in favour of tall left-arm bowler Marco Jansen.  Pakistan scored 177/3 in 62 overs at Tea on the first day, which was an endurance match between the two teams.  While opener Abdullah Shafique scored 57 in 146 balls before being dismissed by Simon Harmer in the 51st over, captain Shan Masood finished the second session undefeated with 77 off 144 balls.  The talismanic former captain Babar Azam’s bad form persisted, but only because of Toni’s incredible catch.  Tonis de Zorzi off Keshav Maharaj’s bowling.  After making 16 runs in 22 balls, he collapsed.  Since December 2022, Babar has failed to reach a century in Test cricket.With his Test debut for Pakistan at the age of 38, Asif Afridi has finally fulfilled a cherished desire.  His journey is a tale of perseverance, bravery, and resolute will that demonstrates that it is never too late to start over.  It seems almost unreal that Afridi made his debut at such a young age in the rapidly evolving sport of cricket, when players frequently retire before turning 35.  It serves as a reminder to all cricket fans that genuine ability never wanes and that perseverance can overcome uncertainty and time.For many years, Asif Afridi has been a well-known figure in Pakistani domestic cricket.  He is a talented left-arm spinner who has quietly produced reliable results in both local competitions and first-class matches.  His goal of playing for Pakistan internationally, nevertheless, always seemed far off.  Opportunities came and went, but he never gave up on his hard work.  Cricket was more than simply a sport to Afridi; it was his identity, his passion, and his reason for living.However, like with many true tales, his journey was not without its challenges.  When Afridi received a two-year penalty for violating the corruption code, his career took an unexpected turn.  Many people were devastated by that incident, which also might have put a stop to his cricket career altogether.  After such a defeat, most athletes would have given up, but Asif Afridi chose to persevere.   During those two years, he rebuilt himself physically and emotionally rather than moping or fading away.  He toiled in silence, concentrated on getting healthy, and readied himself for another opportunity to don the green cap.In domestic cricket, Afridi made a spectacular return after serving his ban.  Selectors began to take notice of his commitment and performances once more.  Although it wasn’t simple, he demonstrated that in contemporary cricket, experience, self-control, and a clear head can still make a difference.  When Asif Afridi’s time came, Pakistan gave him his Test cap, and history was written.  Fans were thrilled with pride and passion as they watched a 38-year-old rookie take the field.  It was a message of forgiveness, hope, and second chances, not just a premiere.Age cannot hinder someone who genuinely believes in their dream, as seen by Afridi’s path.  After years of waiting, many sportsmen may lose motivation, but Afridi demonstrated that perseverance always prevails.  Young cricket players in Pakistan and throughout the world will undoubtedly be inspired by his narrative.  It demonstrates that you can learn from your mistakes and that you can work hard and be honest to regain your opportunity even if life takes it away. The cricket community will now be eagerly observing Asif Afridi as he embarks on his Test career.  His debut alone has already etched a glorious chapter in Pakistani cricket history, regardless of how many games he plays.  He will be known as the man who never gave up, who used his setbacks as inspiration, and who demonstrated that aspirations never die.  For Afridi, this debut is a triumph of faith, perseverance, and self-belief rather than just an athletic accomplishment.