At least three Afghan cricketers were among eight people killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, according to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). The players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to play a friendly match before returning home, where they were struck during a gathering.
Players among victims
The ACB identified the victims as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. It said five others also died in the attack, calling it a “cowardly act carried out by the Pakistani regime.” The board added that the incident was a major loss to Afghanistan’s sporting community and announced the team’s withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20 series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka “as a gesture of respect to the victims.”
Rashid, Nabi express grief
Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan condemned the attack, saying he was “deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation.” He described the strikes as “unjust and barbaric,” urging international attention to human rights violations.
Senior players Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi also shared condolences, calling the killings an “unforgivable crime” and a tragedy for the entire Afghan cricket family.
Ceasefire violation and rising tension
The attack came amid growing tension along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Afghan media reported that Pakistan carried out multiple airstrikes in Paktika’s Urgun and Barmal districts, violating a 48-hour ceasefire between the two nations. Afghan officials said at least ten civilians were killed and twelve injured.
Talks planned in Doha
Both sides are expected to hold crisis talks in Doha, Qatar, to address the renewed violence. Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob is leading the delegation, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik are set to attend from Islamabad.
The deadly escalation highlights the fragile peace along the border, where sporadic clashes and retaliatory strikes continue to claim civilian lives — this time, including young athletes who had gathered simply to play the game they loved.
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