Angry Pakistan Star Khushdil Shah Attacks Spectators In New Zealand After Taunts

The final ODI of the New Zealand vs Pakistan series was witness to some ugly scenes as Khushdil Shah was dragged away by the security. Several social media users claimed that Khushdil Shah was angry with some fans at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Some other accounts claimed that he was angry due to anti-Pakistan slogans. Security had to step in as a fan could be seen restraining the cricketer.

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 present on the field,” the PCB said.

“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, cricketer Khushdil Shah stepped in and urged the spectators to refrain. In response, Afghan spectators escalated the situation by using further inappropriate language in Pashto. Following the Pakistani team’s complaint, stadium officials intervened and ejected the two disruptive spectators,” the statement added.

Ben Sears’s second five-wicket haul on the trot inspired New Zealand to whitewash Pakistan with a 3-0 ODI series triumph, following their 43-run success in the third and final clash of the series at Bay Oval on Saturday. In a 42-over-reduced game due to a wet outfield, Pakistan’s pursuit of a 265-run target began with Imam-ul-Haq retiring hurt after taking a bouncer from William O’Rourke on his helmet. He instantly removed his helmet, holding his jaw. After a brief halt, he was eventually taken off the field, and Pakistan’s premier batter, Babar Azam, arrived at the crease to carry the fight for his side.

A 69-run partnership brewed between Babar and Abdullah Shafique as the duo flaunted their textbook strokeplay. Babar danced around the track to dispatch Michael Bracewell’s flighted delivery past the boundary rope for a maximum.

Sears, who effectively used the short ball ploy, broke the threatening partnership. Shafique (33) swivelled his hook without any timing straight down to Jacob Duffy. The floodgates opened, and Pakistan started losing scalps at regular intervals.

Babar’s 50 kept Pakistan’s hopes high, but Daryl Mitchell set him up perfectly to scythe his scalp. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan (37) and Tayyab Tahir (33) resisted but gave away their wickets to Duffy. Sears cleaned up the middle and tail-end to force Pakistan to pack on 221, surrendering to a 43-run defeat.