At least three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province near the Pakistan border, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed. The players, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, had traveled from Urgun to Sharana to participate in a friendly match.
According to the ACB, after returning home to Urgun, the players were targeted during a gathering in what the board described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.” The attack also claimed the lives of five other people. Further details about the incident have not been released.
In response to the attack, Afghanistan has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation series scheduled next month with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The ACB said the withdrawal was made “as a gesture of respect to the victims,” underscoring the gravity of the loss for Afghanistan’s cricket community.
This tragic event has raised tensions between the two neighboring countries, with Afghanistan mourning the loss of athletes and civilians alike, and highlighting ongoing security concerns along the border.
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