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Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Saturday announced its decision to withdraw from the upcoming Pakistan Tri-Nation T20I Series scheduled for November. The tri-series, set to feature Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, was slated to begin on November 17 in Pakistan, but the latest decision from Kabul marks a significant turn following a tragic incident that has shaken Afghanistan’s cricketing community. The ACB clarified that this step was taken out of respect for victims of a devastating attack that claimed the lives of several cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province on Friday evening.
Afghanistan Cricket Board backs out of Pakistan tri-series over tensions
According to the official statement, Afghanistan’s domestic cricketers Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were among those martyred, while several others sustained serious injuries. The players were in Sharana, the provincial capital, to take part in a friendly cricket match when they were targeted in an assault that has ignited outrage across the nation.
The board expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased players, describing the incident as a “cowardly attack” that has left an indelible scar on the country’s sports community.
“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 in an attack carried out by the Pakistani regime,” the ACB said in its statement. It further emphasized that the decision to withdraw from the tri-series was not taken lightly but was necessary to honour the memory of the victims.
Players express anger and sorrow over the attack
Soon after the announcement, Afghanistan’s leading cricketers took to social media to express their anger and heartbreak. Left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi labelled the incident as “heinous and unforgivable,” condemning the violence against civilians and sportspersons. Farooqi stated that such acts would never be forgotten by Afghans and called for justice for the deceased cricketers. Other national teammates echoed his sentiments, mourning the loss of young players who represented the hopes of cricket’s new generation in Afghanistan. Several players from domestic circuits also expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, terming the attack a “dark day” for the country’s sporting fraternity.
The tragic development has once again placed strain on Afghan-Pakistan cricketing ties, which have often been overshadowed by political and border tensions. While relations between the two boards had seen improvement in recent months through bilateral planning and regional tournaments, this latest incident is expected to halt any near-term cooperative engagements. Insiders suggest that discussions were underway regarding future series between the two nations, but the ACB’s decision may push those talks indefinitely back.
Cricket fans across Afghanistan have rallied behind the board’s decision, urging authorities to stand firm in condemnation of the act and protect Afghan sportspersons’ dignity. Analysts believe this episode could deepen the current diplomatic freeze between Kabul and Islamabad, raising uncertainty about whether Afghan players will continue normal interactions with Pakistani counterparts during ICC events. As the global cricket community reacts, the focus remains on mourning the victims and ensuring that their sacrifice becomes a symbol of resilience for Afghanistan’s cricketing future.
Here’s how Afghanistan players reacted:
انالله واناالیه راجعون
د ظالمانو لخوا د ملکي وګړو او زموږ د کورني کرکټ لوبغاړو شهیدانېدل یو ستر نه بښونکی جنایت دی، شهیدانو ته دې لوی خدای جنت فردوس نصیب کړي او ظالمان دې خدای ج ذلیل او په خپل قهر ګرفتار کړي.
د لوبغاړو او ملکي وګړو شهیدانول افتخار نه بلکه د بیغرتۍ آخري
حد دی!…— fazalhaq farooqi (@fazalfarooqi10)
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.
It is absolutely immoral and…
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19)
انالله واناالیه راجعون
په ډیرې خواشينی سره مو خبر ترلاسه کړ چې د پکتیکا ولایت د ارګون ولسوالۍ کې خدای نا ترسه هیواد زمونږ د هیواد څو لوبغاړي په ش.هادت رسولي دي.
له لوی رب نه ورته جنت الفردوس غواړم
او متعال رب دې زمونږ د هیواد ابدي دښمنان ذلیله کړي امین یارب العالمین— Rahmanullah Gurbaz (@RGurbaz_21)
We are deeply saddened by the cowardly military attack in Argun, Paktika, that martyred innocent civilians and fellow cricketers. This brutal act by the Pakistani army is an assault on our people, pride, and independence.but it will never break the Afghan spirit.
— Gulbadin Naib (@GbNaib)
💔
— Samiullah Shinwari (@SamiShinwari45)
