In a devastating turn of events, Afghanistan has announced its withdrawal from an upcoming tri-nation cricket series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This decision comes after three local cricketers were tragically killed in an attack, as confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday.
According to the ACB, the players were traveling from Urgun to Sharana in the eastern Paktika province, a region close to the Pakistan border, to participate in a friendly match. After their return journey to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering in what the board described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
The Afghanistan Cricket Board identified the three victims as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. The attack also claimed the lives of five other individuals. Further details regarding the incident have not been released.
The ACB expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating it “considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.” The board extended its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families affected by this tragedy.
The decision to pull out of next month’s tri-series was made “as a gesture of respect to the victims,” underscoring the deep impact of this loss on the nation’s cricketing spirit.
Afghan international cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi shared his anguish on social media, writing: “The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.”
Echoing this sentiment, former captain Mohammad Nabi also commented on the tragedy: “This incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole.”