Three young Afghanistan cricketers were killed in a Pakistan airstrike near the border in Paktika province on Friday evening. The tragic incident has shocked the cricket world and led to Afghanistan pulling out of an upcoming tri-nation tournament with Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that the three cricketers, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, lost their lives when Pakistan launched airstrikes in the Urgun and Barmal districts of Paktika province. The players had traveled from Urgun to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to play a friendly cricket match earlier that day.
What Happened in Paktika Province
According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the three cricketers returned home to Urgun after playing their friendly match in Sharana. However, they were targeted during a gathering in what the ACB called “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime”. The attack killed not just the three Afghanistan cricketers but also five other civilians from the same district.
Reports suggest that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in multiple locations across Paktika province on Friday evening. The strikes came just hours after a 48-hour ceasefire between the two countries had ended. Afghan officials said at least ten people were killed and twelve others were injured in the attacks, with two children among those who died.
The three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border attack were all domestic-level players from the Urgun district of Paktika province. Kabeer, also known as Kabir Agha, was an emerging talent known for his aggressive batting at the top of the order. Sibghatullah was a medium-fast bowler who represented Urgun Warriors in regional competitions. Haroon was an all-rounder who could bat right-handed and bowl orthodox off-spin.
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Response
Following the deaths of the three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border area, the ACB released a strong statement expressing deep sorrow and grief. The board said it considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.
In response to the tragic incident, the Afghanistan Cricket Board made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The tournament was scheduled to be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 17 to 29. The ACB said the withdrawal was made “as a gesture of respect to the victims”.
This would have been Afghanistan’s first major tournament in Pakistan featuring all three teams. The two countries have not played any bilateral cricket series since Afghanistan gained Test status. However, Afghanistan A teams had previously visited Pakistan, and many Afghan players also trained in the country before receiving International Cricket Council recognition.
Rashid Khan and Other Players React
Afghanistan’s T20I captain Rashid Khan released a powerful statement on social media condemning the attacks. He said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan”. Rashid Khan added that the tragedy claimed the lives of women, children, and young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.
The Afghanistan captain called the actions “absolutely immoral and barbaric” and said targeting civilian infrastructure represents a grave violation of human rights that must not go unnoticed. Rashid Khan welcomed the ACB’s decision to withdraw from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan, saying “I stand with our people at this difficult time, our national dignity must come before all else”.
Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi also expressed his grief over the deaths of the three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border incident. Nabi said he was “deeply pained” to hear the news and called it a tragedy not only for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole.
Other Afghanistan cricketers also spoke out against the attacks. Fazalhaq Farooqi, the left-arm pacer, called the incident “a heinous, unforgivable crime” and said the killing of players and civilians is not honor but the deepest disgrace. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib described it as a “cowardly military attack” and a “brutal act by the Pakistani army”.
Background of Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions
The deaths of the three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border region came during a period of rising tensions between the two neighboring countries. Fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border had broken out earlier in October, with both sides reporting casualties among soldiers and civilians.
A 48-hour ceasefire had been agreed upon between the two countries on Wednesday. The truce was meant to allow for peace talks and provide relief to civilians living in border areas. However, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire when it launched fresh airstrikes on Friday evening.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan had reported that 37 people were killed and 425 were injured on the Afghan side of the border before the ceasefire began. The organization urged both countries to put a permanent end to the violence.
Despite the ceasefire being broken, representatives from both Pakistan and Afghanistan held peace talks in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. Afghanistan’s Defense Minister and Pakistan’s intelligence chief traveled to Doha for the discussions. The talks were aimed at finding a way to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s Response
After Afghanistan withdrew from the tri-series, the Pakistan Cricket Board released a statement saying the tournament will still go ahead as planned. A senior PCB official said they are looking for a replacement team to join Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the series.
“The Tri-Series will progress as scheduled even after Afghanistan’s withdrawal. We are looking at a replacement team and once finalised, the announcement will be made. The Tri-Series features a third team in Sri Lanka so it is on from 17th November,” the PCB official stated.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s international cricket department is considering associate member teams including Nepal and UAE as potential replacements for Afghanistan. However, their priority is to get a Test-playing nation to participate in the tri-series. Pakistan will also host Sri Lanka for a separate three-match bilateral T20 series from November 11 to 15.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had reportedly written to the International Cricket Council earlier, asking them to prepare a backup plan in case Afghanistan pulled out due to the border tensions. With Afghanistan now officially withdrawing, the PCB has begun the process of finding a replacement.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket has been tense for some time. During a tri-series in Sharjah before the Asia Cup, Pakistani and Afghan spectators were seated in separate sections to prevent potential clashes between fans.
Details About the Three Cricketers
The three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border attack were all young players with promising futures in the sport. They were part of Afghanistan’s growing domestic cricket system and had dreams of one day representing their country at the international level.
Kabeer Agha was expected to be shortlisted for the Afghanistan U-23 provincial camp in 2026 due to his consistent performances in district leagues. He had recently featured in youth tournaments organized by the ACB’s southern cricket committee. Friends and teammates remember him as a talented batsman who played with passion and determination.
Sibghatullah had become a potential leader in Paktika’s cricket community with his strong bowling skills. He played for Urgun Warriors in regional competitions sanctioned by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. His performances in the Paktika Premier League the previous year had caught the attention of cricket officials in the region.
Haroon was enrolled in a local college and was playing cricket full-time while pursuing his education. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a valuable all-rounder in local tournaments. He had built a reputation in Afghanistan’s domestic scene through his steady performances in tape-ball and local T20 competitions.
All three players had traveled together to play the friendly match in Sharana on Friday. They were excited about the opportunity to showcase their skills and continue developing their cricket careers. Tragically, what should have been a normal day of playing cricket turned into a nightmare when they returned home and were caught in the Pakistan airstrikes.
Impact on Cricket Relations
The deaths of the three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border area and Afghanistan’s subsequent withdrawal from the tri-series represent a major setback for cricket relations between the two countries. Pakistan had been trying to revive international cricket at home and this tournament was part of those efforts.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have a complicated cricket relationship. At one time, Pakistan had supported Afghanistan cricket by allowing their players to participate in domestic events. Many Afghan cricketers learned and developed their skills in Pakistan before Afghanistan gained recognition from the International Cricket Council.
However, political and military tensions between the two countries have often affected sporting ties. The current situation shows how difficult it is to separate sports from politics when there are serious conflicts happening between nations.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s decision to pull out of the Pakistan tri-series was supported by the entire Afghan cricket community. Players, officials, and fans all agreed that the country’s national dignity and respect for those who died must come before cricket matches.
This tragic incident reminds us that cricket, like all sports, cannot be separated from the real world where people live, work, and face difficult challenges. The three Afghanistan cricketers killed in the Pakistan border region will be remembered not just as players but as innocent victims of a conflict they had no part in creating.
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