In a powerful display of solidarity and protest, Afghanistan’s star cricket captain, Rashid Khan, has publicly distanced himself from his Pakistan Super League (PSL) team, Lahore Qalandars. This move comes in the wake of tragic aerial strikes carried out by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province, which claimed the lives of eight civilians, including three promising local cricketers. The victims were reportedly targeted upon returning from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital.
The three cricketers tragically killed in the incident were identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. Their untimely deaths have led to widespread concern and speculation within the cricket community, with many questioning whether Rashid Khan might take further action, potentially boycotting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) altogether.
Rashid, a key player, has been a prominent figure for Lahore Qalandars since 2021, contributing significantly to their success, including three PSL titles, with the most recent victory occurring just last season.
Rashid Khan didn’t hold back in his statement on social media. He expressed profound sadness over the civilian casualties from the recent Pakistani aerial strikes in Afghanistan, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “absolutely immoral and barbaric.” He asserted that such “unjust and unlawful actions” were a “grave violation of human rights” and demanded they not be ignored.
Furthermore, Khan publicly backed the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to withdraw from all upcoming cricket fixtures against Pakistan. He declared his unwavering support for his people during this difficult time, stating clearly that “national dignity must come before all else.”
Adding to the chorus of condemnation, Afghan all-rounder Samiullah Shinwari also voiced his deep sorrow. He lamented the “martyrdom of the heroic players of Argoon district of Paktika,” who were brutally attacked following a friendly cricket match. Shinwari described the event as an immense tragedy, not just for Paktika, but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole, extending his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. He concluded with a solemn promise: “We will never forget their memory and sacrifice.”
Echoing these sentiments, Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal also publicly supported the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s resolute decision to pull out of the planned tri-series against Pakistan.