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In a T20I match against England, as Khushdil Shah was leaving the field after his dismissal, a significant portion of the fans in the stands began chanting "Parchi, Parchi."
“Parchi” technically translates to ‘receipt’ but it’s used by a few Pakistani cricket fans with a negative and derogatory connotation, implying the player has not earned their place in a team on a merit basis but rather using one’s connections.
In recent times, Wasim Akram publicly backed Usman Qadir when he faced allegations of being a 'parchi' player. Furthermore, Inzamam-ul-Haq had previously been labelled as a 'parchi' player as well.
This blog delves into the Khushdil Shah controversy, where he was called a “Parchi”, the fans’ backlash and Imam-ul-Haq’s response. Khushdil Shah, who had featured in five out of seven matches, concluded the series with a total of 63 runs from four innings.
In the final T20I held in Lahore on Sunday against England, Pakistan suffered a heavy 67-run defeat. This loss passed the series victory to the visiting England cricket team, who won the seven-match series by 4-3. Pakistan had invited England to bat first, and they showcased an excellent overall batting performance, amassing an impressive total of 209/3 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, Pakistan's innings got off to a disastrous start as they lost their star players, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, within the first two overs. Shan Masood showed some resistance by scoring a 43-ball 56, but Pakistan could only manage a total of 142/8 in their 20 overs.
During the match, there was an unfortunate incident involving local spectators. These fans were heard chanting derogatory slogans directed at middle-order batsman Khushdil Shah.
The Khushdil Shah controversy occurred right after he was dismissed after scoring 27 runs from 25 balls.
A video of this incident surrounding Khushdil Shah circulated on social media, with angry fans chanting derogatory remarks as the batsman made his way back to the pavilion. "Parchi" is a term often used by Urdu speakers, and in this context, it implied that the player was being favoured due to connections rather than merit.
The crowd's behaviour regarding Khushdil Shah drew strong criticism from Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq, who urged the fans to refrain from such actions. He expressed in a tweet the need to avoid such negative rants at any player since it affects their well-being and asked the fans to continue supporting the players as they were playing for the country.
Post the Khushdil Shah controversy, the Pakistan team was all geared up for a tri-nation series in New Zealand, which also featured Bangladesh and commenced on October 7 in Christchurch. After the conclusion of this series on October 14, Pakistan travelled to Australia to participate in the T20 World Cup. They were set to open their campaign against arch-rivals India on October 23.
To sum it all up, this Khushdil Shah controversy concerning cricket fans branding him a parchi player serves as a stark reminder of the negative impact of such fan behaviour on the players’ mental well-being and health. Imam-ul-Haq’s call for encouraging and appreciating the players, no matter their performance, echoes the importance of sportsmanship in cricket.
Cricket is an ever-evolving game; let's hope to cultivate a more encouraging atmosphere in the stands, one that inspires our players to excel on the field.
FAQs
What does the term ‘Parchi’ imply in the cricketing world?
"PARCHI" is a term used to suggest that a player is favoured due to connections rather than merit.
How did Pakistan fare in the final T20I match against England?
Pakistan suffered a heavy 67-run defeat against England in the final T20I match.
What's next for the Pakistan cricket team after the T20 series?
The team is preparing for a tri-nation series in New Zealand, followed by participation in the T20 World Cup, where they face India in their opening match.
