Three Afghan Cricketers Killed in Deadly Attack, Afghanistan Withdraws from Tri-Nation Series

Afghanistan’s Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the country’s withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, following the tragic killing of three Afghan cricketers in an attack in the eastern province of Paktika.

The devastating incident has sparked outrage and sorrow across Afghanistan’s sports community, with tributes pouring in for the slain players.

According to a statement released by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday, the three players were travelling from Urgun to Sharana, located near the Pakistan border, to participate in a friendly cricket match.

However, the board reported that after returning home to Urgun, the players were targeted during a local gathering in what the ACB described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”

The ACB refrained from providing further details about the nature of the assault, but it strongly condemned the act as a heinous crime against Afghan athletes and civilians.

In an official statement, the ACB expressed profound grief and solidarity with the victims’ families, stating: “The Afghanistan Cricket Board considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. We extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families.”

Prominent Afghan cricketers also voiced their anger and heartbreak over the killings.

• Fazalhaq Farooqi, a fast bowler for Afghanistan’s national team, wrote on Facebook: “The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.”
• Mohammad Nabi, one of Afghanistan’s most experienced all-rounders, posted: “This incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole.”

Decision to Withdraw from the Tri-Nation Series

As a mark of respect for the slain players, the ACB announced its withdrawal from next month’s tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The board said the decision was taken “as a gesture of respect to the victims”, reaffirming its stance that sportsmanship cannot thrive amid violence and loss of innocent lives.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the ongoing tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, where cross-border attacks have repeatedly disrupted peace efforts. For Afghanistan’s cricketing community, this latest incident represents not just a loss of players—but of hope, unity, and the spirit of the game itself.