At least 8 people among three Afghanistan Cricketers died and seven other injured in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province near border on 17 October. The Afghanistan Cricket Board stated that the players had had earlier traveled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering.
In response of the tragic incident The ACB withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November.
In the statement ACB, “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 carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
The three players who died are Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon.
“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. The ACB also extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the martyrs and to the people of Paktika Province,” the statement stated.
According to Afghan media reports, Pakistan carried out a series of airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Friday, prompting Kabul to accuse Islamabad of violating the fragile ceasefire between the two neighboring countries.
Afghanistan’s Tolo News, citing local sources, reported that the strikes targeted residential areas in the Urgun and Barmal districts, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
The attacks occurred despite a 48-hour ceasefire agreement that had been declared following days of intense cross-border clashes.
