News Brief
Three Afghan Cricketers Killed In Pakistani Strike; ACB Pulls Out Of Pakistan–Sri Lanka Tri-Series
Pic Via X
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its withdrawal from next month’s tri-nation series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka following the killing of three Afghan cricketers in an attack earlier this week, NDTV reported.
According to the ACB, the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, for a friendly cricket match.
The board stated that upon their return home to Urgun, they were targeted during a local gathering — calling it “a cowardly act carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
The board identified the victims as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, adding that five others also lost their lives in the same assault.
In its statement, the ACB described the incident as “a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes and cricketing family,” and extended heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the victims’ families.
Afghan cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi condemned the killings on Facebook, calling them “a heinous and unforgivable crime” against innocent civilians and domestic players.
Veteran Afghanistan cricketer Mohammad Nabi termed the incident a national "tragedy,” saying it had shaken not just Paktika but the entire Afghan cricket fraternity.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, in a message of condolence, prayed for the victims’ souls and urged for divine justice against what he called the “merciless enemies” responsible for the attack in Paktika’s Arghun district.
