Afghanistan Cancels T20 Series with Pakistan After Airstrike
Tragic Airstrike Claims Lives of Afghan Cricketers
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially called off its upcoming T20 tri-nation series with Pakistan following a devastating airstrike that killed three Afghan cricketers. The shocking incident has drawn widespread condemnation and mourning across the cricket world. So let’s have a look at Afghanistan Cancels T20 Series with Pakistan.
According to Tolo News, the air raids — reportedly conducted by Pakistan — struck residential areas in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on Friday, October 17. At least 40 people, including women and children, lost their lives, while over 170 others were injured. Among the victims were three young cricketers — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — from the Urgun district of Paktika province.
ACB Condemns “Cowardly” Attack
In an emotional statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed deep sorrow and denounced the incident as a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.” The board confirmed that the players had returned home after participating in a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, before being targeted during a local gathering.
“In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon) alongside five fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured,” the ACB said. “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.”
Series Cancelled as Mark of Respect
The tri-series, which was scheduled for late November and was set to feature Pakistan, Afghanistan, and another participating nation, will no longer include Afghanistan. The ACB’s withdrawal highlights the deep sorrow and political tension that the tragedy has reignited between the two countries.
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Eyewitness Accounts Paint Grim Picture
Local Afghan officials confirmed that the airstrikes hit civilian homes directly, causing massive destruction. Witnesses and survivors accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting non-combatant areas, violating international humanitarian law.
“There were no military forces here — only civilians and a local market — yet we were attacked,” said Noorghali, one of the injured survivors.
Other locals described scenes of devastation and grief, as families buried their loved ones in Spin Boldak’s central cemetery, attended by hundreds of mourners.
A Nation in Mourning
The deaths of the cricketers have sent waves of grief throughout Afghanistan’s sporting community. The ACB’s decision to pull out of the tri-series stands as a solemn act of remembrance and protest — a message that sports cannot be played amidst such tragedy and loss.
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