Kabul, 18 October (H.S.): The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, citing a deadly attack on Afghan domestic cricketers. The series, also featuring Sri Lanka, was scheduled to begin in late November.
The decision follows a violent incident on Friday evening in the Urgun district of Paktika province, where an attack resulted in the deaths of eight people, including domestic cricketers Qabir, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. The players were en route to Sharana, the provincial capital, for a friendly match.
In a strongly-worded statement, the ACB directly blamed the Pakistani regime for the cowardly attack and expressed profound grief over the martyrdom of the players.
In light of this tragic incident and as a mark of respect for the martyred players, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided not to participate in the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan, the statement read. The board described the event as a great loss for the nation’s sports community.
Prominent Afghan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi condemned the attack, stating, The martyrdom of civilians and our domestic cricket players is an unforgivable crime. The incident has escalated tensions, with experts suggesting the deteriorating relationship may impact future interactions between the two teams, even at ICC events.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
