The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially withdrawn from the forthcoming Tri Series T20I competition, scheduled to be played in Pakistan from November 17. The tournament was to have Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan participating in it.
ACB Responds to Paktika Province Tragic Loss
In a press statement issued on October 18, the ACB confirmed that it withdrew as a result of the unfortunate murder of three Afghan cricketers Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon who were killed in Urgun District, Paktika Province, on Friday night (October 17). The cricketers had gone to Sharana, the provincial capital, to attend a friendly game when they were attacked.
The attack also resulted in the deaths of five other civilians and injured seven others. The ACB described the incident as a “cowardly attack”, and accused the Pakistani regime of masterminding the act.
ACB Denounces the Attack, Terms It a National Loss
In a strongly worded and emotional statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board conveyed its “deepest sorrow and grief” at the incident, terming it a “great loss” to Afghanistan’s sporting fraternity and cricketing family.
“In a gesture of respect for the victims, the ACB has decided to withdraw from taking part in the forthcoming Tri Series against Pakistan,” read the statement.
The board sent deepest sympathies to the affected families and citizens of Paktika Province, standing together with the victims.
Cricketers React: Farooqi Terms It “Unforgivable”
High-profile Afghanistan left-arm bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi also criticized the attack on social media. On his official Facebook page, he referred to the slaughter of civilians and local players as a “heinous and unforgivable crime.”.
The martyrdom of our cricketers at the hands of the oppressors is an act of brutality that cannot be pardoned,” Farooqi said.
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Future Cricketing Relations in Jeopardy
This news has put a cloud on future cricketing relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Cricket experts and fans are speculating that Afghan cricketers might refuse handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts at future ICC events, mirroring the worsening diplomatic and sporting relations between the two countries.
The ACB’s withdrawal from the Tri Series in Pakistan is not just a sporting matter but a major political and emotional position in reaction to national tragedy. As events unfold, the world of international cricket will look on with interest at how the relationship between the two cricket boards develops.
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