The ongoing tension between Pakistan and the Afghanistan Taliban has once again turned violent. Hours after Islamabad and Kabul agreed on Friday to extend a 48-hour ceasefire, Pakistan conducted an airstrike in Afghanistan's Paktika province.
SPORTS NEWS: The escalating tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan has now spilled over into the sports arena. Following the deaths of three Afghan cricketers in an alleged Pakistani airstrike, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20 International series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The ACB stated in its official statement that the attack is “an irreparable loss” not only for the sports community but for the entire cricket fraternity of Afghanistan. Paying tribute to the players killed in the attack, the board immediately suspended all upcoming cricket activities with Pakistan.
Deadly Attack in Paktika Province
The incident occurred in Urgun district of Afghanistan's southeastern Paktika province. According to reports, three cricketers — Kabir, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were returning home after participating in a friendly cricket match. After returning home, they were present at a local gathering when they became targets of the Pakistani airstrike.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board, in its statement, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun district of Paktika. This cowardly attack by the Pakistani regime is against both sports and humanity. In addition to the three players, five other local civilians were also killed in this attack, while seven people were injured. According to local administration, the bombing severely affected residential areas.
Attack Despite Ceasefire
This airstrike occurred at a time when a 48-hour ceasefire agreement was in effect between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries had recently agreed to a ceasefire following border clashes. However, hours after the agreement, this airstrike took place in Paktika province, further deepening the tension.
Pakistan has described this action as part of its “security operations,” while Afghanistan has called it “a direct attack on civilians.” The international community has expressed concern over the incident, with the United Nations calling it a “worrying escalation” in cross-border violence. The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that it would not participate in the tri-nation T20 series scheduled for late November. This series was to be played between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The ACB stated that playing with Pakistan under the current circumstances would be “impossible and insensitive.”
A spokesperson for the board said, "This attack is not just on our players, but on the sports and youth community of Afghanistan. Cricket has been a symbol of unity and hope in our country, and at a time when our players were becoming messengers of peace, an attack on them is deeply unfortunate."
