Afghanistan pulls out of series after saying Pakistan air strike killed local players

According to the country’s cricketing body, Afghanistan will no longer play in an upcoming cricket series after three of its competitors died in an airstrike.

Out of respect for the deceased, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced that it would withdraw from the tri-nation T20 series in November. The group claimed that the Pakistani government had carried out an “attack on Friday.” The three did not participate in national football.

According to witnesses and local officials, the strike occurred at a home in Paktika province’s Urgon district, where the players were having dinner after a game.

Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were the three players who were killed, according to the ACB, who described their deaths as “a terrible loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.”

The “tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers” in an airstrike that also “claimed the lives of several civilians,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared it was “deeply saddened and appalled.”

In a statement, the ICC stated that it “strongly condemns this act of violence” and that it “stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and echoes their grief.”

Following days of bloody hostilities along the Afghan-Pakistani border, the attack occurred just hours after a temporary truce was set to end. There have been numerous reports of casualties.

At least 70 combatants were killed in the airstrike, according to Pakistan, which claimed it had targeted Afghan militants.

Rashid Khan, the captain of the Afghan national team, praised the “aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their country on the world stage” in a social media post.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, one of the players for the Afghan national side, addressed the tributes, calling the attack a “heinous, unforgivable crime.”

Following a suicide attack near the Afghan border on Friday, according to Pakistani officials, seven soldiers were killed.

The 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which reportedly brokered on Wednesday at 13:00 GMT, has been extended to allow for negotiations.

On Saturday, an Afghan delegation from Afghanistan made the trip to Qatar’s Doha to meet with Pakistan’s side for peace talks.

Despite “Pakistani aggression,” according to the Taliban government, which it claims is Islamabad’s attempt to prolong the conflict, it said it would participate in the discussions.

Hamid Karzai, the ex-President of Afghanistan, urged Pakistan to “reevaluate its policies and establish friendly and civilized relations.”

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif will lead the country’s delegation to Doha, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Saturday.