Afghanistan Withdraws from Series After Border Clashes, MP Suggests BCCI Take Note

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation series, which was set to feature Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This decision comes in the wake of Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, which resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 10 people, including three Afghan cricketers. The ACB stated that the withdrawal is a gesture of respect to the victims of these attacks, which Afghan officials claim violated a ceasefire agreement.

The ACB’s move has drawn praise from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. She suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government could learn from Afghanistan’s example, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing national interests above sports. Chaturvedi’s comments appear to be a jab at India’s participation in recent cricket matches against Pakistan amidst heightened bilateral tensions.

The airstrikes, reportedly conducted in the Argun and Barmal districts of Paktika province, claimed the lives of three cricketers from Urgun district: Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. The ACB expressed its condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims.

Afghanistan’s star cricketer, Rashid Khan, also condemned the airstrikes, calling them an unjust and unlawful violation of human rights. He expressed support for the ACB’s decision, stating that national dignity must always come first.

This incident has reignited discussions about India-Pakistan sporting ties, especially in light of previous tensions that led to calls for boycotting matches during the Asia Cup. While India has maintained its stance on not engaging in bilateral cricket with Pakistan due to ongoing security concerns, participation in multinational tournaments is often governed by event regulations.