Kabul, October 17, 2025: Tragedy struck Afghanistan’s cricket community after three local cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province near the Pakistan border. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that the players lost their lives alongside five other civilians in what it described as a “cowardly attack.”
Afghan Cricketers Killed in Airstrike
The ACB identified the deceased players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, all from the Urgun district of eastern Paktika. According to officials, the three athletes had travelled to Sharana to participate in a friendly cricket match.
After returning home to Urgun, they became victims of the airstrike during a local gathering. The ACB condemned the incident in a statement, saying,
“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 carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
The statement did not provide further details but confirmed that a total of eight people were killed in the strike.
Afghanistan Withdraws from Upcoming Series
In response to the attack, the ACB announced that Afghanistan will withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, originally scheduled for next month. The board said the decision was taken “as a gesture of respect to the victims” and to stand in solidarity with their families.
The withdrawal is expected to heighten already tense relations between Kabul and Islamabad, which have frequently clashed over border security and airspace violations in recent months.
Rashid Khan and Players Condemn Attack
Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan was among the first to condemn the incident. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he expressed deep grief and outrage over the loss of innocent lives, including children and aspiring cricketers.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation,” he wrote.
Khan called the act “immoral and barbaric,” stressing that targeting civilian areas “is a violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed.” He also supported the ACB’s decision to withdraw from the series, adding,
“Our national dignity must come before all else.”
Veteran cricketer Mohammad Nabi echoed similar sentiments, calling it “a dark day for Afghan cricket.” Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi also shared a statement on Facebook, writing,
“The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.”
Airstrikes Violate Ceasefire
Afghan media outlets reported that Pakistan carried out a series of airstrikes in Paktika province on Friday. The attacks allegedly targeted residential areas in Urgun and Barmal districts, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.
According to Tolo News, the strikes came amid a 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The temporary truce had been agreed upon following several days of cross-border clashes between the two sides.
Pakistan had earlier called for an extension of the ceasefire until the end of the Doha peace negotiations, aimed at easing tensions and preventing further violence. Kabul reportedly agreed to the proposal, extending the truce until the talks conclude.
Negotiations between the two nations are scheduled to begin on Saturday in Doha, but the latest incident is expected to cast a shadow over the peace efforts.
National Grief and Rising Tensions
The deaths of the young Afghan cricketers have sparked national mourning and renewed anger towards Islamabad. Many see the attack as a blow not only to Afghanistan’s sporting spirit but also to the fragile peace process between the two neighboring countries.
The ACB has called on international cricket bodies to condemn the airstrike, urging for global attention to the safety of Afghan players and civilians living near the border.
