Max O’Dowd faced abuse for dropping Pakistan’s Faheem Ahsraf: ‘It seems Indian fans were angrier than Dutch supporters’

O’Dowd was gutted to have let his team down and let go the opportunity for a monumental upset, but his social media timeline gave the impression that there were others more upset than he could ever be.

There was huge activity on his Instagram and other social media profiles, with some comments – most of them presumably from India supporters – being of a personal and abusive nature.

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Responses like ‘Netherlands ka Hassan Ali’, Bro you’re professional player, how you can drop that easiest catch?’ and ‘Bhai pakad lete catch bikhari pehle din hi bahar ho jaate’ were some of the more printable ones.

The player in the centre of the incident was taken aback though he understood where all this was coming from.

“Some of the comments were quite harsh, something that should never be said to anyone,” O’Dowd told The Indian Express after a training session for the Netherlands’ second game against Namibia here on Tuesday.

“It seems that Indian fans were angrier with me than the Dutch supporters,” he added cheekily.

While the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is quite intense at the best of times, recent events on and off the field – with teams refusing to shake hands and Pakistan threatening to boycott the upcoming match against India, in apparent solidarity with Bangladesh who were replaced in the tournament after they refused to travel to India – have provided an added edge.

Moving on

While the disappointment at being unable to finish the job against Pakistan was palpable, the New Zealand-born batsman, whose father Alexander played for Auckland and Northern Districts, stressed that he and his teammates had put it behind them.

Netherlands batter Max O’Dowd in action. (PHOTO: Netherlands Cricket)

“We had a chat about things after the game, not just that catch. We could have done a lot of things better. We thought we were a bit short with the bat as well,” O’Dowd said.

The 31-year-old had the backing of his team, all-rounder Colin Ackermann said.

“Max is good. There were obviously many other moments in the game where we could have done better. If we look at the last five overs of our batting, if we had added another 15–20 runs, that could have been the difference. There are 240 moments in a T20 game, so we need to be better in those other moments as well,” the 34-year-old of South African lineage said.

Both players said there were no extra fielding drills, especially catching skiers in the outfield after the costly lapse.

“I have taken such catches a thousand times. It’s just that I dropped that one and we lost the match,” O’Dowd said. “So, no additional practice.”

Ackermann, who has played for Durham in English domestic cricket as well as in The Hundred and the SA20, said the team was looking ahead to the upcoming assignments.

“When we got off the bus in Delhi, coach Ryan Cook said the past is the past — there’s nothing we can do about it — and we must look forward to the next game against Namibia.”

Tushar Bhaduri is a highly experienced sports journalist with The Indian Express, based in Delhi. He has been a journalist for 25 years, with 20 of those dedicated to sports reporting. Professional Background Expertise: Tushar writes on a wide variety of sports, focusing on the "bigger picture" and identifying underlying trends that impact the sporting world. Experience: He has covered numerous major global sporting events over his long career. Writing Style: He is known for providing analytical depth, often exploring governance, sportsmanship, and tactical evolutions in games like cricket, golf, and hockey. Recent Notable Articles (2025) His recent work highlights his diverse interests, ranging from the business of golf to major international cricket tournaments: Golf and Athlete Ventures: "In turf battle of golf leagues, Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh in opposite camps" (Dec 11, 2025) — A piece on the rivalry between new golf leagues promoted by Indian cricket legends. "Golf's glittering stars in India: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood... battle for $4million prize" (Oct 14, 2025) — Coverage of the biggest-ever golf tournament in India. Cricket and World Cups: "How rains in Colombo helped India stay alive in the ICC Women's World Cup" (Oct 22, 2025). "Champions Trophy: How Glenn Maxwell brain-fade proved costly" (Mar 4, 2025) — Analysis of a critical turning point in the IND vs AUS match. "IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: In PBKS and RCB, the league's underachievers look to take one step closer" (May 28, 2025). Thought Pieces and Policy: "Sportsmanship is going out of fashion" (Oct 8, 2025) — An editorial on the blurring lines between passion and provocation across various sports like chess, golf, and cricket. "Can the Italian Open really become the fifth Grand Slam in tennis?" (May 20, 2024). Olympic Sports: "Paris Olympics hockey: Why the defeat to Belgium ushers in hope and optimism for India" (Aug 1, 2024). Topics of Interest Tushar frequently writes about IPL strategy, ICC tournament planning, and profiles of rising stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He also maintains a keen interest in historical sports narratives, such as the legacy of Dhyan Chand. ... Read More

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