In a shocking incident at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah had to be dragged away by security after he furiously confronted a group of spectators following Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand in the third and final ODI on Saturday.
What Triggered the Incident?
Pakistan lost the third ODI by 43 runs, ending a disappointing tour where they were whitewashed 0-3 in the ODI series and previously lost the T20I series 1-4. While Khushdil Shah was not part of the playing XI, he was present at the venue and reportedly reacted after repeated taunts and anti-Pakistan slogans were directed at the team by a section of fans.
Eyewitnesses say Khushdil charged aggressively toward the crowd, but was quickly pulled back by members of the Pakistan support staff before the situation worsened.
PCB Responds with Official Statement
Following the incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement confirming that foreign spectators used abusive and inappropriate language. According to the PCB, the confrontation escalated when Pashto-speaking Afghan fans continued to insult the team and shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.
“The Pakistan team management has strongly condemned the abusive language directed at national players,” the PCB stated.
“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, Khushdil Shah tried to calm the situation, but the abuse continued. Stadium officials later ejected the disruptive spectators.”
Pakistan’s Struggles Continue on the Field
Pakistan’s poor form continued as they failed to chase a revised target of 265 in the rain-affected third ODI. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam showed some resistance with scores of 37 and 50 respectively, but the team fell short once they were dismissed.
With this defeat, New Zealand sealed the ODI series 3-0, adding to Pakistan’s woes following their earlier 4-1 loss in the T20I series. The team’s poor form has also been highlighted by their failure to reach the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
This incident, combined with the team’s string of poor performances, has raised questions about Pakistan’s morale and leadership. The emotional outburst by Khushdil Shah is a reflection of the pressure building up within the squad. As the team regroups, both on-field performance and off-field behavior will come under intense scrutiny in the coming weeks.