Follow UsAs many as three Afghanistan cricketers were killed in a Pakistan air strike, as a result of which the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to pull out of their tour of Pakistan, where they were slated to play a T20I tri-series against the hosts and Sri Lanka next month.
The cricketers are believed to have lost their lives in Urgun District in Paktika Province, while returning from Sharana, where they played a friendly match.
"In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon) alongside 5 other fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had earlier travelled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering," the ACB said in a statement.
While expressing their condolences, the ACB has also called this a great loss for their sports community.
"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," the statement further added.
"The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. The ACB also extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the martyrs and to the people of Paktika Province."
Afghanistan's premier spinner and their T20I skipper, Rashid Khan, too has supported his board's decision not to tour Pakistan following this "barbaric act."
"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," Rashid wrote on X.
"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.
"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."
Things have gone from bad to worse between the two countries since October 11, since the Afghan forces allegedly attacked many Pakistani military posts, which has left many innocent people dead in both countries. Pakistan, then, are believed to have carried out attacks in the Paktika Province, targeting residential areas along the Durand Line.