Afghanistan will no longer take part in an upcoming cricket series after three players in a local tournament were killed in an air strike, the nation's cricketing body says. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated its intention to withdraw from November's tri-nation T20 series to honor the deceased, who were reportedly 'targeted' in an attack described by the ACB as 'carried out by the Pakistani regime'. The strike hit a home in Urgon district, Paktika province, where the players were having dinner after a match. Eight individuals died in the incident.
The ACB named the three players: Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, expressing that their deaths represent 'a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family'. The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed its sorrow over the tragic deaths and condemned the violence, standing in solidarity with ACB. This event occurred shortly after a temporary truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan ended, which had been implemented to mitigate recent border clashes.
During this truce, Pakistan claimed it targeted militants in the strike, while Afghan sources reported civilian casualties leading to outrage. In a show of solidarity, Afghan captain Rashid Khan shared tributes, reflecting on the dreams of the young cricketers who aspired to represent their country. As large crowds gathered for the players' funeral, both countries continued to navigate a fragile peace with ongoing negotiations aimed to address cross-border tensions.
The ACB named the three players: Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, expressing that their deaths represent 'a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family'. The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed its sorrow over the tragic deaths and condemned the violence, standing in solidarity with ACB. This event occurred shortly after a temporary truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan ended, which had been implemented to mitigate recent border clashes.
During this truce, Pakistan claimed it targeted militants in the strike, while Afghan sources reported civilian casualties leading to outrage. In a show of solidarity, Afghan captain Rashid Khan shared tributes, reflecting on the dreams of the young cricketers who aspired to represent their country. As large crowds gathered for the players' funeral, both countries continued to navigate a fragile peace with ongoing negotiations aimed to address cross-border tensions.
