Pakistan’s disastrous tour of New Zealand ended not just with a third straight ODI defeat, but also in controversy as all-rounder Khushdil Shah lost his temper and got into an ugly confrontation with taunting fans at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Saturday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later issued a statement confirming the incident and defending their player’s actions, citing abuse and anti-Pakistan slogans from a section of foreign, reportedly Afghan, spectators. 

After Pakistan slumped to a 43-run defeat in the final ODI, capping off a demoralizing tour that saw them lose the T20I series 1-4 and the ODI series 0-3, Khushdil stormed towards a section of the crowd. While the exact trigger remains unclear, video footage and eyewitness accounts suggest the fans hurled repeated taunts targeting the team’s poor performances, which eventually pushed the 30-year-old cricketer over the edge.