The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that the country is withdrawing from the upcoming T20 tri-nation series in Pakistan involving Pakistan national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team after the tragic deaths of three Afghan cricketers in the eastern province of Paktika Province. The players, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon, were killed following what the ACB described as a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime” while returning from a friendly match in the provincial capital of Sharana. 

In its statement the ACB said it is “deeply saddened by the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers … a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes and the cricketing family”, and offered condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Paktika. 

Afghan captain Rashid Khan, speaking out about the incident, labelled the aerial strikes “absolutely immoral and barbaric”, calling on the international community to recognise the violation of human rights.

With this withdrawal the series, scheduled for November in Pakistan, now faces uncertainty as the cricket board of Pakistan reportedly considers alternate arrangements.