After three Afghan cricketers were killed in what the country’s cricket body described as a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime,” Afghanistan has chosen to withdraw from the forthcoming tri-nation T20I series against Pakistan.
Between November 17 and 29, Rawalpindi and Lahore were to host the series between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
“Deeply saddened” by the “tragic martyrdom” of Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, along with five other players from Urgun District in Paktika Province, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a strongly worded statement. They were attacked after returning from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital. The attack resulted in seven additional injuries.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime,” ACB said in a statement.
“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” while extending condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Paktika Province, the board added.
According to the ACB, the decision to withdraw from the series was made out of respect for the victims.
“In response of this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November. May Allah grant the martyrs the highest ranks in Jannah and bless the injured with a speedy recovery,” the statement added.
The ceasefire between the two countries was also reportedly broken by Pakistani airstrikes in the Paktika province’s Argun and Barmal areas.
The incident was denounced by star spinner Rashid Khan, who expressed that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan.”
“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 posted on X.
“In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the ACB’s decision of withdrawing from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time — our national dignity must come before all else,” he added.
