Afghanistan were due to play tri-nation series in Pakistan, involving Sri Lanka as third team.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) withdrew from the upcoming T20I triangular series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka amid the ongoing military conflict with Pakistan.
This move comes after Pakistan carried out fresh airstrikes in Afghanistan, which broke the ceasefire.
In its official statement, the Afghanistan board revealed that Pakistani’s airstrikes in the Urgun district of Paktika province resulted in the killing of three cricketers. The ACB stated that the players had earlier travelled to Sharana to play a friendly match.
“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 ACB said in an official statement.
“In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon) alongside 5 other fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had earlier travelled 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,” the statement added.
Consequently, Afghanistan won't be travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming series against the hosts and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to be played in November 2025.
“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 ACB said.
“In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November,” the board added.
Taking to X, Afghanistan’s T20I skipper Rashid Khan expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of three young cricketers and several civilians in Pakistani airstrikes, calling it a grave violation of human rights and welcomed ACB’s decision to pull out of the upcoming fixtures against Pakistan.
“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 aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage,” Rashid wrote.
“It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed. In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the ACB’s decision of withdrawing from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time, our national dignity must come before all else,” he added.
Earlier, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had reportedly written to the ICC, asking the apex body to keep the alternate plan ready if Afghanistan eventually pulled out of the Tri-Nation series.
Now, it remains to be seen what the ICC and PCB decide and which team eventually replaces Afghanistan in the triangular series.