Khushdil-Afghans row caps disastrous tour

ISLAMABAD: Khushdil Shah’s unfortunate incident where he was seen rushing towards Afghan nationals hurling abuses on the Pakistan team capped the disastrous New Zealand tour where the team managed only one win in eight matches.

Reports reaching here from eyewitnesses from New Zealand’s picnic resort of Mount Maunganui confirmed that Kushdil Shah could not tolerate the highly abusive language unleashed by some Afghans watching the last ODI.

Though Kushdil first tried to calm down the situation, when these foreign nationals’ aggression intensified, he tried to jump across the barricades to get hold of the rowdy spectators.

Ground security then took over and tried to keep Khushdil away from them.

“These looked like Afghan nationals who wanted to create an ugly scene by hurling derogatory remarks and abusive language on Pakistan players.

When Khushdil countered them in Pashto, these Afghans started getting more rowdy in the same language and even rushed towards him,” one of the eyewitnesses told The News.

Following efforts from security personnel, Khushdil was barred from crossing over the ground bearer.

The News also received some pictures from New Zealand where Khushdil was seen rushing towards the rowdy crowd.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says that Pakistan cricket team management has strongly condemned the abusive language directed at players by foreign spectators.

Following Pakistani team’s complaint, stadium officials ejected the two disruptive spectators.