By Tasnim News Agency
KABUL: Afghanistan has announced it will withdraw from an upcoming international cricket series following an air strike that killed three local players during a domestic tournament, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that it will not participate in the November tri-nation T20 series, citing respect for the players who lost their lives in what it described as an attack “carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
According to ABC, the three victims — Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were among eight people killed when an air strike hit a home in Urgon district of Paktika province on Friday night. The players, who were not part of the national team, had gathered for dinner after a local cricket match when the strike occurred.
ACB Condemns “Targeted Attack”
In a statement, the ACB called the incident “a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” alleging that the players were “targeted” in a deliberate strike.
Pakistan, however, denied that civilians were targeted, saying the airstrike was aimed at militant groups operating near the Afghan border. Islamabad claimed the operation killed at least 70 combatants, insisting that it struck “legitimate terrorist positions.”
ICC Expresses Shock and Condemnation
The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed its outrage and condolences following the deaths, describing the victims as “young and promising Afghan cricketers.”
“The ICC is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three Afghan players and several civilians in an air strike,” the organization said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and strongly condemn this act of violence.”
Border Tensions and Truce Extension
The deadly strike took place just hours after a temporary 48-hour truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan was due to expire. The fragile ceasefire followed several days of intense cross-border clashes that left dozens dead on both sides.
Pakistan’s Minister of Information, Attaullah Tarar, dismissed accusations that the attack targeted civilians, calling them “false and meant to generate sympathy for terrorist groups based inside Afghanistan.”
He maintained that the operation was a “measured response” to recent militant attacks on Pakistani soldiers. Earlier on Friday, Islamabad confirmed that seven of its troops were killed in a suicide bombing near the Afghan border.
Afghan Cricketers Pay Tribute
Afghanistan’s national cricket captain Rashid Khan led tributes to the slain players, describing them as “aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.”
Teammate Fazalhaq Farooqi called the airstrike a “heinous and unforgivable crime,” while other Afghan players and fans flooded social media with messages of grief and anger.
Large crowds gathered in Paktika on Saturday for the funeral ceremonies of the victims, where mourners carried the national flag and demanded accountability.
Peace Talks in Doha Amid Rising Tensions
Despite the escalating tensions, the Taliban government confirmed that it would still send a delegation to Doha, Qatar, for peace talks with Pakistan. The meetings, mediated by regional partners, are intended to discuss ways to restore calm and prevent further cross-border hostilities.
The Taliban said the decision to participate came “despite Pakistani aggression,” which it claimed was designed to “prolong the conflict and justify continued attacks.”
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the airstrikes, urging Pakistan to “reconsider its policies” and instead “pursue friendly and civilized relations with Afghanistan.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif would head its delegation in Doha, with talks focusing on “ending cross-border terrorism and restoring peace and stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.”
Zimbabwe to Replace Afghanistan in Series
Following Afghanistan’s withdrawal, Zimbabwe is set to replace the team in the November T20 series. The ACB said its decision was made “out of respect for the lives lost” and as a symbolic protest against what it called “unprovoked aggression against Afghan civilians.”
The incident has drawn condemnation from international cricketing bodies and reignited fears that renewed border violence could undermine fragile peace efforts in the region.
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