A tragic incident has shaken Afghanistan’s cricket community after three domestic cricketers were killed in an alleged Pakistani airstrike in the Paktika province, near the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) condemned the attack and announced the country’s withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

According to the ACB, the players — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — had traveled from Urgun to Sharana in Paktika to play a friendly match. They were reportedly attacked later that evening after returning to their hometown. In its official statement, the ACB described the strike as a “cowardly and inhumane act by the Pakistani regime,” calling for justice and mourning the loss of its players.

National Mourning and Global Reaction

Afghanistan’s star cricketer Rashid Khan expressed deep anguish on social media, terming the strike a “heinous crime and a barbaric act against innocent civilians.” He urged the global community to take notice of the civilian toll and demanded accountability. Former captain Mohammad Nabi and several other Afghan players also voiced grief and outrage, sharing condolences for the victims’ families.

Following the attack, the ACB declared it would not participate in the tri-series as a mark of respect to the deceased players. “Cricket is more than a sport — it’s a symbol of unity and hope for Afghans. We cannot continue while our players are being killed,” the board said in its statement.