3 afghanistan cricketers dead in Pakistani airstrike, cricket board withdraws from tri-series
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Saturday claimed that three domestic cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika
Kabul: At least three Afghanistani cricketers have been killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in the eastern Paktika province on the Pakistan border to take part in a friendly match.
The three deceased players has been identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon.
Later, the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) announced that they will be pulling out of their upcoming tri-series against Pakistan due to the death of three local cricketers in the cross-border attacks in the Urgun district of the country.
Worth-mentioning, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan were set to take on each other in a tri-series that was arranged by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and was supposed to be played between November 17 and 29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The ACB informed about the tragic loss of lives of three local cricketers who were returning home after playing a friendly game in Sharana, the capital of Paktika in the social media platform X
“Statement of Condolence. 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,” the ACB tweeted.
“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 tweeted added.
Statement of Condolence
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.
In… pic.twitter.com/YkenImtuVR
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 17, 2025
Afghanistan Captain Rashid Khan lashed out at Pakistan and stated that such “unjust” and “unlawful actions” constitute a “grave violation” of human rights.
“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,” he posted 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.”
