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Afghanistan withdraw from tri-series after Pakistan airstrike kills cricketers

Akshita Patel

Afghanistan condemns Pakistan [Source: @ACBofficials/X.com]Afghanistan condemns Pakistan [Source: @ACBofficials/X.com]

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has strongly condemned the alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province that claimed the lives of three domestic Afghan cricketers. Calling it a “cowardly attack”, the board announced its immediate withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation series in Pakistan.

Amid a military standoff between the two countries, a Pakistani airstrike reportedly targeted residential areas in the Argun and Bermal districts along the Durand Line, killing several civilians, including three domestic cricketers.

ACB withdraws from the tri-series scheduled with Pakistan

The players had returned to Urgun after a friendly match when the attack occurred. The Afghanistan Cricket Board, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a “cowardly act” by the Pakistani regime.

In an official statement, they called it a huge loss for the nation’s sporting community. The 3 deceased, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, were killed in an airstrike that hit during a local gathering.

ACB's statement [Source: @ACBofficials/X.com]ACB's statement [Source: @ACBofficials/X.com]

As a mark of respect to those who lost their lives, the ACB said it would not take part in the tri-series scheduled with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29. 

The board concluded its statement by urging international organisations and the global cricket community to recognise the human cost of such violence.

Rashid Khan condemns Pakistan for their ‘barbaric’ attack 

Afghanistan’s star cricketer, Rashid Khan, also condemned the Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika as “barbaric and immoral”, mourning the loss of innocent lives, including children and young cricketers. 

He said it was heartbreaking to see aspiring players who dreamed of representing Afghanistan killed in such attacks. 

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage. It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed," Rashid said in a statement.

Rashid supported the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s decision to withdraw from the Pakistan tri-series, saying national dignity must come before all else and that human rights violations like these cannot go unnoticed.