Khushdil Shah Fined And Penalized For Collision With Bowler

Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah has been fined 50% of his match fee after being found guilty of a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening T20I against New Zealand held on March 16, 2025, in Christchurch. The incident occurred during the 8th over of Pakistan’s innings when Khushdil collided with New Zealand bowler Zakary Foulkes. Match referee Jeff Crowe and on-field umpires, Wayne Knights and Sam Nogajski, judged the collision as "forceful physical contact" which was described as careless and preventable.

Khushdil was charged under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to improper physical contact during international matches. Following his acceptance of the charge, which avoided the necessity for formal proceedings, the ICC imposed three demerit points to Khushdil’s disciplinary record. Accumulating four demerit points within 24 months could lead to suspension points, raising the stakes for the Pakistani cricketer.

This incident came at a challenging time for the Pakistan team, as they managed to post only 91 runs, marking a dismal start to Salman Ali Agha’s tenure as permanent T20I captain. Despite Khushdil’s effort of scoring 32 runs off 30 balls, he received little support from the batting line-up. Agha could contribute only 18 runs, and Jahandad Khan only 17, resulting in Pakistan being bundled out before reaching the full 20 overs.

On the other hand, New Zealand showcased formidable bowling prowess, led by Jacob Duffy who took 4 wickets for just 14 runs, and Kyle Jamieson who claimed 3 wickets for 8 runs, effectively dismantling the Pakistani batting order. Chasing down the modest target, the hosts reached 92 runs for the loss of only one wicket, concluding the match with Tim Seifert being the top-scorer, making 44 runs off 29 balls.

Despite Abrar Ahmed managing to dismiss Seifert, the duo of Finn Allen, who scored 29 runs not out, and Tim Robinson, who added 18 runs not out, comfortably led New Zealand to victory. The Kiwis won the match by nine wickets with 59 balls remaining, thereby taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Looking forward, both teams are set to clash again for the second T20I on March 18, 2025, in Dunedin, where Pakistan will hope to regroup and bounce back from their recent challenges on the pitch.

This unfortunate incident involving Khushdil Shah highlights the importance of adhering to on-field conduct for cricketers competing at the international level. With three demerit points on his record and the potential consequences of accumulating more, Khushdil and his team will need to be on their toes to avoid any lapses during the series.