Batting all-rounder Khushdil Shah addressed ‘Parchi’ chants against him in the stadium during the Champions Trophy’s opening match against New Zealand on Wednesday.
While Pakistan struggled to chase the mighty target of 321 runs against New Zealand, Khushdil Shah did not have a good time on the field despite scoring 69 runs off 49 balls. Being the top-scorer in the entire batting line-up of Pakistan, Shah faced unpleasant chants of ‘parchi’ ( a term used to suggest favoritism in the team’s selection.)
Despite showing intent, Khushdil Shah’s innings fell short as Pakistan lost by 60 runs to Kiwis. Khushdil Shah addressed these chants against him in a media talk at National Stadium in a post-match media talk.
“If I were playing for myself, you wouldn’t have heard those [parchi] chants today,” Khushdil Shah said while speaking to journalists in the mixed zone.
“I have never played for individual records. My goal is always to contribute to the team’s success, whether people acknowledge it or not. I try to score runs without worrying about my wicket, the cricketer said further.
He further stated that he and Naseem Shah were determined to take the game ahead, however, with almost no wickets at hand, they had slim chances to reach the finish line.
“Naseem and I were discussing that if we could take the game to the last over, we had a chance. But with no wickets left in hand, it wasn’t possible,” he said.
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“People have been chanting slogans at me for two years now. It’s become a habit. I even tell them, ‘Go on, chant some more,’” he said.
“This is a big tournament happening on our home soil. People need to support the team instead of tearing down players. It’s disappointing when your fans do this at your home ground.
“It shouldn’t happen, but I’ve learned to handle it and just focus on my game,” said Shah during the talk.