The Afghanistan national cricket team is mourning the deaths of three young club-level cricketers, who were among eight civilians killed in a cross-border airstrike in the Urgun district of Paktika province. In a powerful and emotional tribute, star players, including T20 captain Rashid Khan, donned black armbands during a practice session to honor the victims. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has pointed to the attack as the reason for withdrawing from a scheduled tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan.
According to the ACB, the three aspiring athletes—identified as Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon—were killed while gathering at a home in Urgun after participating in a friendly match in the provincial capital of Sharana. Five other civilians were also martyred in the strike, which the ACB condemned as a "cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime".
International outcry and official condemnation
The attack has drawn significant international condemnation, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressing its shock and sadness. "The ICC is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers...whose only ambition was to play the sport they loved," the global governing body stated, condemning the act of violence. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also expressed solidarity and offered its condolences.
Player's powerful protest
The tribute from the Afghan national team was widely reported on social media and international sports outlets. During a practice session for an upcoming test match, players wore black armbands and held a minute of silence, expressing their grief and outrage. Many players also took to social media to publicly condemn the attack and pay tribute to the fallen cricketers.
Rashid Khan, the team's captain, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) calling the incident "a grave violation of human rights" and describing it as "absolutely immoral and barbaric" to target civilian infrastructure.
Mohammad Nabi wrote that the incident was not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the "entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole".
Fazalhaq Farooqi labeled the killings as a "heinous, unforgivable crime".
Political and regional implications
The airstrike occurred amid a sharp escalation of cross-border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with dozens of casualties reported in recent days. While Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of breaking a ceasefire, Pakistani officials denied targeting civilians and claimed they were striking militant hideouts. The tragic deaths and the ensuing outrage within the Afghan sports community highlight the ongoing political and humanitarian fallout from the regional conflict.
In the wake of the ACB's withdrawal, Zimbabwe is set to replace Afghanistan in the tri-nation series. However, for the players and fans of Afghanistan, the loss of these young lives remains a painful blow that has transcended the world of sports.
