Three local Afghan cricketers were killed in an attack during a friendly match with Pakistan on Friday, following which Afghanistan has withdrawn from a tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka scheduled next month.
Afghan players had traveled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, as per the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
In its statement, the ACB said that "after the players returned home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering", describing it as a "cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime."
The ACB has identified the players as "Haroon, Kabir, and Sibghatullah." Apart from them, five other people were also killed in the attack. However, no further details of the tragic incident have been provided.
The ACB stated that it "considers this a great loss for the Afghanistan sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family," as it expressed its "deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families."
Adding that the decision to withdraw from the tri-series was taken as "a gesture of respect to the victims."
Captain Rashid Khan breaksAfghanistan skipper Rashid Khan also shared a post on social media and wrote, "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 Khan (@rashidkhan_19) October 17, 2025
He added, "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."
Another Afghan international cricketer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, also expressed his grief, saying, "The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous and unforgivable crime."
Former Afghanistan Captain and international cricketer Mohammad Nabi stated, "The incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika, but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole."