In an unusual turn of events, Iftikhar Ahmed found himself in a heated exchange with a fan during the second T20I clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on January 14. The decision to field first was made by Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi after winning the toss.
The incident unfolded during the first innings when the Pakistan all-rounder, standing near the boundary line, reacted angrily to the crowd calling him ‘Chachu.’ In a circulating video on social media, Iftikhar Ahmed can be seen silencing the fan in response to the taunt.
Here is the video of the incident:
Iftikhar Ahmed got angry
When a fan called him “Chachu”
Dont call me “Chachu” iftkhar replied.#PAKvsNZ #NZvsPAK #NZvPAK#Iftimania #PakistanCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/G9DRBBWBxU— Rizwan Babar Army (@RizwanBabarArmy) January 14, 2024
Despite the off-field drama, New Zealand delivered a stellar performance in the second T20I, securing a 21-run victory. This triumph propelled the Kiwis to a 2-0 lead in the five-game series, having previously won the Auckland T20I by 46 runs.
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Highlighting the match, Finn Allen’s aggressive 74-run innings off 41 balls played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s commanding total of 194. Allen, along with opening partner Devon Conway, contributed to a significant 59-run partnership. Haris Rauf stole the show in the first innings, finishing with remarkable figures of 3/38, receiving support from Abbas Afridi (2/43), who made his T20I debut in the series opener.
Pakistan faced a daunting chase, losing openers Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan within the first two overs. A promising partnership between Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman ensued, but the latter fell to Adam Milne after reaching 50.
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Despite Babar Azam’s valiant effort with a quick 66 off 43 balls, he eventually succumbed to Ben Sears’ delivery, leaving Pakistan at 153/7. In the end, no other batsman could make a significant contribution as Pakistan was bowled out for 173, with Milne standing out with four wickets for 33. Tim Southee, captaining in Kane Williamson’s absence, added two crucial wickets, including the final dismissal of Abbas Afridi.
