Kabul: At least three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province, eastern Afghanistan, close to the Pakistan border, in a tragic incident that also claimed the lives of five other civilians. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the names of the players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to participate in a friendly match.
The ACB described the airstrike as a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime”, noting that the players were targeted while returning home to Urgun during a gathering. In response, Afghanistan has withdrawn from a tri-nation cricket series scheduled next month against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as a mark of respect to the victims.
In an official statement on X, the ACB said:
"The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack."
Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan condemned the attack and praised the ACB’s decision to withdraw from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. He called the strikes immoral and barbaric, emphasizing that targeting civilians and aspiring young athletes constitutes a serious violation of human rights.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives, including women, children, and young cricketers who dreamed of representing Afghanistan. Our national dignity must come first," Khan said.
International players Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi echoed the grief, describing the incident as a heinous and unforgivable crime affecting not only Paktika but the entire Afghan cricket community and nation.
According to Afghan media reports, Pakistan carried out a series of airstrikes on Friday in Urgun and Barmal districts, resulting in significant civilian casualties. These strikes come during a fragile 48-hour ceasefire following recent cross-border clashes.
Earlier, Islamabad had proposed extending the ceasefire until the end of ongoing Doha negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions. Kabul reportedly agreed to the extension, with talks scheduled to commence on Saturday.
The airstrikes have sparked outrage in Afghanistan, with leaders and citizens condemning the breach of the truce and calling for accountability for civilian casualties, particularly the young athletes who lost their lives pursuing their cricketing dreams.