Afghan Cricketers Killed: Three Afghan Players Dead in Pakistan Airstrike; Afghanistan Cricket Board Withdraws from T20 Tri-Series

Paktika, Afghanistan:
The sporting world was left in shock after three Afghan cricketers were killed in a deadly airstrike conducted by Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. The tragic incident occurred in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, claiming the lives of the athletes along with five other civilians.

According to local reports, the three players — Kabir, Sibgatullah, and Haroon — had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home, the players attended a community gathering where an airstrike struck the area, leading to multiple casualties.

The Afghanistan government strongly condemned the incident, calling it a “cowardly act by Pakistan.”

Amid rising border tensions, both nations had agreed to extend a 48-hour ceasefire just hours before the airstrike. However, the subsequent attack has escalated the situation further, drawing global concern.

In response, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal from the upcoming T20 tri-nation series featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled for the end of November 2025.

Reacting emotionally to the incident, Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan posted on social media:

“The loss of innocent civilians and young players who dreamed of representing Afghanistan is heartbreaking. Attacking civilians is an inhumane and brutal act. Our national pride stands above all else, and I fully support the ACB’s decision.”

The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the cricketing community, with many calling for peace and accountability in the conflict-hit region.