The Pakistan Cricket Board have condemned the 'abusive language' towards their players that led to a sideline spat involving all-rounder Khushdil Shah on Saturday (April 5).
The incident happened after New Zealand beat the visitors by 43 runs in the third match of the series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Visuals circulated showed Khushdil trying to confront a group of fans before security intervened to diffuse the situation
it remains to be seen whether this could land Khushdil in disciplinary trouble for the second time on this tour. During the preceding T20Is, he was fined 50 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points after colliding with New Zealand bowler Zac Foulkes while taking a single.
A fan beating Pakistani cricketer Khushdil Shah in New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/pCnccxmZh0
— 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐪 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢 (@AbbasiAteeq20) April 5, 2025
Multiple eyewitnesses and reports claimed that some fans directed personal remarks at Pakistan players. Unable to contain his emotions, Khushdil confronted the spectators directly. According to journalist Saj Sadiq, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) subsequently verified that its players had been subjected to "inappropriate remarks" and issued a strong condemnation of the behavior.
From Pakistan Cricket Board:
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) April 5, 2025
Mount Maunganui Incident:
- The Pakistan cricket team management has strongly condemned the abusive language directed at national players by foreign spectators.
- During the match today, foreign spectators hurled inappropriate remarks at cricketers…
The match at Bay Oval saw two unusual incidents earlier in the day. Pakistan were forced to field a concussion substitute for the second consecutive match after opener Imam-ul-Haq was struck on the jaw by a wayward throw at the non-striker’s end. Later, at the dying stages of the match, the floodlights suddenly failed just as fast bowler Jacob Duffy was about to send down a bumper at Tayyab Tahir, who somehow managed to evade it safely.
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