Three young Afghan cricketers were among eight civilians killed in a reported aerial strike by Pakistan on Saturday. The deceased players were identified as Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon.The Afghanistan Cricket Board has responded by withdrawing from an upcoming tri-nation series that was scheduled to include Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The series was set 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 may further strain relations between these two Asian Cricket Council members, following recent tensions between India and Pakistan during the Men’s Asia Cup.Kabeer Agha was an aggressive top-order batter who was close to being selected for the Under-23 provincial camp. He had played for regional clubs in domestic competitions and participated in youth tournaments organised by the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s southern committee.Sibghatullah, a medium-pace bowler from the Paktika region, played for Urgun Warriors in local tournaments sanctioned by the ACB. He had shown leadership potential after being discovered during the previous year’s Paktika Premier League.Haroon was an emerging all-rounder in Afghanistan’s domestic cricket scene. He combined his cricket career with college studies, bowling orthodox off-spin and batting right-handed. He had performed consistently in local T20 and tape-ball tournaments.The incident has sparked strong reactions from international Afghan players. Team captain Rashid Khan labelled the attack as barbaric, while other prominent players shared their responses on social media.“This incident is not only a tragedy 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, that martyred innocent civilians and fellow cricketers. This brutal act by the Pakistan army is an assault on our people, pride and independence but it will never break the Afghan spirit,” wrote Gulbadan Naib.“The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime. May Almighty Allah grant the martyrs the highest place in Paradise, humiliate the perpetrators, and subject them to His wrath. The killing of players and civilians is not honour — it is the deepest disgrace,” posted pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi.
