Kabul: At least three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province, eastern Afghanistan, close to the Pakistan border, in a tragic incident that also claimed the lives of five other civilians. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the names of the players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to participate in a friendly match.

The ACB described the airstrike as a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime”, noting that the players were targeted while returning home to Urgun during a gathering. In response, Afghanistan has withdrawn from a tri-nation cricket series scheduled next month against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as a mark of respect to the victims.

In an official statement on X, the ACB said:

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