Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi is making his long-awaited Test debut in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan team on Oct 20 announced one change to the XI for the second Test against South Africa: left-arm spinner Asif Afridi replaces pacer Hasan Ali in a spin-heavy attack. Captain Shan Masood confirmed the move at the toss, saying “Just one change – Asif Afridi makes his debut today”
The match at Rawalpindi Stadium is the second of a two-Test series (part of the World Test Championship 2025-27), and Pakistan lead 1-0 after a 93-run win in Lahore. By adding Afridi, Pakistan reinforce their spin attack on a dry, turning pitch as they aim for a series sweep.
Asif Afridi’s journey to Test cricket has been long and unconventional. A left-arm orthodox spinner from Peshawar, he has been a stalwart of Pakistan’s domestic game for over a decade, taking 198 wickets in 57 first-class matches at about 25.5 runs apiece. His record includes 13 five-wicket hauls. Afridi also contributes useful runs down the order. He even played franchise cricket – making his PSL debut in 2022 for Multan Sultans and returning to the PSL in 2025 for Lahore Qalandars. His cricketing path has had setbacks: in 2023 he received a two-year PCB ban for failing to report an anti-corruption approach, but half of that sentence was suspended and he returned to domestic cricket in late 2023. Since his comeback, Afridi has shown good form (notably taking seven wickets in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against Faisalabad and was a key part of Lahore Qalandars’ 2025 PSL title-winning squad.
Asif Afridi comes into a Pakistan side deliberately prepared for spin. After struggling against Bangladesh and England earlier in 2025, captain Masood and coach Azhar Mahmood have prioritized spin-friendly surfaces at Lahore and Rawalpindi. In the first Test at Lahore, spinners Noman Ali (10 wickets) and Sajid Khan (6 wickets) shared 16 of South Africa’s 40 wickets. On a dry Rawalpindi pitch, Mahmood even left open the option of a three-spinner attack. He said that either Afridi or leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed could be included to exploit the surface. With more turn expected, Pakistan believe Afridi’s experience and left-arm variety can complement Noman, Sajid and part-timer Salman Agha in breaking the Proteas’ resistance. As Mahmood noted before the match, batting big totals will be crucial on this track and bowlers must be ready to take advantage.
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Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had the honor of presenting Asif Afridi with his Test cap before the match, symbolically welcoming him into the Test team. The players and support staff all “extended their best wishes” to Afridi on his debut, hoping for a “successful and memorable outing”. The dressing room has rallied behind the 38-year-old, whose persistence has finally paid off. Pakistan’s spin quartet will look for Asif Afridi to contribute immediately with tight, wicket-taking overs as the hosts chase a 2-0 series victory.
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