Three young Afghan cricketers were among eight civilians reportedly killed in an airstrike Pakistan on Saturday. The deceased players have been identified as Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah and Haroon.The Afghanistan Cricket Board has responded by withdrawing from an upcoming tri-nations series that was scheduled to include Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The series was scheduled to take place in Pakistan from November 17 to 29.
The incident occurred within 48 hours of a ceasefire agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This development could further strain relations between these two members of the Asian Cricket Council following tensions between India and Pakistan during the Men’s Asia Cup.Kabeer Agha was an aggressive top-order batsman who was on the verge of being selected for the U23 provincial camp. He had played for regional clubs in domestic competitions and participated in youth tournaments organized by the Southern Committee of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.Sibghatullah, a medium-fast bowler from the Paktika region, played for the Urgun Warriors in local ACB-sanctioned tournaments. After being spotted in the Paktika Premier League last year, he had shown leadership potential.Haroon was an emerging all-rounder in Afghanistan’s domestic cricket scene. He combined his cricket career with college studies, playing orthodox off-spin bowling and batting right-handed. He had shown consistent performances in local T20 and tapeball tournaments.The incident sparked strong reactions from international Afghan players. Team captain Rashid Khan described the attack as barbaric, while other prominent players shared their reactions on social media.“This incident is a tragedy not only for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole,” said Mohammed Nabi, a former captain and well-known figure in Afghan cricket.“We are deeply saddened by the cowardly military attack in Argun, Paktika, in which innocent civilians and fellow cricketers were martyred. This brutal act by the Pakistan Army is an attack on our people, our pride and our independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit,” wrote Gulbadan Naib.“The massacre of innocent civilians and our homegrown cricketers by these oppressors is a heinous, unpardonable crime. May Allah Almighty grant the martyrs the highest place in Paradise, humiliate the perpetrators and subject them to His wrath. Killing players and civilians is not an honor – it is the greatest shame,” pacer Fazalhaq posted Farooqi.
