Pakistan player attacks a fan in New Zealand after humiliating 3-0 loss; PCB issues statement

In a shocking incident that marred the conclusion of Pakistan’s dismal ODI series in New Zealand, cricketer Khushdil Shah was involved in a heated altercation with spectators at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Saturday, 5 April. The confrontation came moments after Pakistan’s 43-run defeat in the third and final ODI, which handed them a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the hosts.

Pakistan cricketer fights with a fan in New Zealand

Tensions ran high near the boundary ropes after the match as a visibly agitated Khushdil Shah attempted to climb over a fence to confront a group of fans, who the PCB has claimed to be from Afghanistan. A video that has since gone viral on social media shows the batter being restrained by security personnel, while another official is seen dragging away the offending spectator to defuse the situation.

Reacting to the incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released an official statement defending Khushdil Shah’s actions and condemning the behavior of the spectators.

“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 in a statement issued on Saturday.

The board further clarified that Khushdil Shah had only intervened to urge the fans to stop the alleged anti-Pakistan slogans.

“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, cricketer Khushdil Shah intervened and appealed to the spectators to desist. In response, Afghan spectators further escalated the situation by using inappropriate language in Pashto. Following a formal complaint lodged by the Pakistan team, stadium officials intervened and ejected the two disruptive spectators from the premises,” the statement added.

The New Zealand Cricket Board has not yet issued a comment on the incident. As Pakistan return home empty-handed from the tour that consisted of five T20Is and three ODIs, the team’s poor on-field performance and now this off-field controversy have left fans and pundits alike demanding accountability.