WATCH: Iftikhar Ahmed gives ‘shut up’ call to fan for chanting ‘chachu’

Pakistan’s middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed on Sunday aggressively reacted to a spectator’s “chachu” chant during the second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand.

The video was recorded by one of the spectators when the 33-year-old batter was fielding near boundary line during the match played at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Sunday.

Annoyed by a fan continuously calling him “chachu” — the term is commonly used in South Asian countries for uncle — Iftikhar suddenly turned around and bluntly gave a shut up call to him.

His cold response surprised everyone even the fan who tried to make him calm by saying: “We are your fans” to which the right-handed batter replied, “Stay quiet”.

Speaking to Geo News, the 33-year-old batter had expressed his views on listening to “chachu” chants from spectators, saying that he felt bad for the first time but he then enjoyed being called by the nickname.

The national cricketers of Pakistan have a very interesting thing about them, which is almost all of them have a nickname. Not only do the cricketers call each other by these names but they are commonly known by cricket fans as well.

Iftikhar had initially got the name for his looks as he looks older than his age. However, the fans now chant this name whenever the cricketer steps on the field or hits a boundary, to cheer him up.

He added that being called "chachu" wasn't something bad or abusive so he enjoyed it. "This crowd supports me and believe me, wherever I go, I get a lot of love," the cricketer said.

However, the thing has supposedly changed as seen in the fresh video or it could be just the heat of the moment during a tense situation during the match.

New Zealand inched closer to winning the series after defeating Pakistan in the second T20I match by 21 runs.

The visitors struggled in the chase of the 195-run target from the start as they lost both of their openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, within the first overs for just 10 runs.

After two early departures, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman brought the Green Shirts back in the game by forming a formidable 87-run partnership which saw the latter completing a well-deserved half-century in 24 balls with the help of five sixes and three fours.

Iftikhar Ahmed (4 off 8), Azam Khan (2 off 3), and Aamer Jamal (9 off 8) failed to stay and help their side put up a fight.

Pakistani bowlers made an excellent comeback in the match and managed to restrict the in-form Kiwis to 194 runs, a total they can chase down.

Haris Rauf took three wickets in the 19th over and became Pakistan’s top wicket-taker of the match. All of the visitors’ bowlers, except skipper Shaheen Afridi, picked up wickets.