Pakistan Cricket Board slams Afghan-origin spectators for anti-Pakistan chants; Khushdil Shah had to be restrained as tempers flared in Mount Maunganui.
April 6, 2025: Pakistan Cricket Board Breaks Silence After Khushdil Shah-Spectator Clash During PAK vs NZ 3rd ODI
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a strong statement condemning an incident during the third ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, where Pakistan batter Khushdil Shah had to be physically restrained after confronting a group of Afghan-origin spectators.
The altercation was reportedly triggered by anti-Pakistan chants and inappropriate language from the stands. According to the PCB, the situation escalated when Khushdil Shah approached the boundary and attempted to defuse tensions. However, the spectators responded with further abuse, prompting Shah to charge toward them before security intervened.
“Upon hearing anti-Pakistan slogans, Khushdil Shah urged restraint, but the Afghan spectators escalated the situation by using further inappropriate language in Pashto,” read the PCB’s official statement.
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Following a complaint from the Pakistan team, two spectators were ejected from the stadium. The incident added to the tension in an already disappointing tour for Pakistan, who lost the ODI series 0-3 and the preceding T20I series 1-4.
This is not the first time tensions have flared between Afghan and Pakistani fans during matches. Notably, Afghan batter Ibrahim Zadran had previously used a World Cup 2023 post-match presentation to criticize Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan nationals.
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Meanwhile, the PCB also provided an update on opener Imam-ul-Haq’s fitness. Imam retired hurt early in the third ODI after taking a throw to the face. A CT scan at Tauranga Hospital revealed a mild concussion, but he was declared fit to travel home with the team.
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The PCB reiterated its commitment to player safety and called for improved crowd management in international fixtures.
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