Afghanistan has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation cricket series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, after Pakistani airstrikes killed at least 10 people, including three local cricketers, in the southeastern province of Paktika on Friday night.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the decision was taken “as a gesture of respect to the victims” and in solidarity with the families of the players who lost their lives.
“This incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family,” veteran cricketer Mohammad Nabi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Statement of Condolence
The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.
In… pic.twitter.com/YkenImtuVR
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 17, 2025
Tensions erupt after ceasefire breach
The pull-out comes amid a dangerous flare-up of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Just hours before the strikes, both sides had agreed to extend a fragile 48-hour ceasefire while peace talks continued in Doha.
But late Friday night, the Taliban accused Pakistan of violating the truce and launching airstrikes in Paktika province and nearby areas along the border. Afghan officials confirmed civilian homes were hit, leaving multiple casualties.
According to a police spokesman in Paktika, three of the victims were young cricketers who had returned home after playing a friendly match in Sharana.
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“A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation,” Afghan cricket captain Rashid Khan posted on X.
Ceasefire that didn’t hold
The latest violence marks a sharp reversal after both Islamabad and Kabul announced a temporary truce to halt days of intense border clashes. The clashes began last week after explosions in Kabul were blamed on Pakistan, though Islamabad denied involvement.
Fighting along the border killed dozens of people on both sides, with the Taliban claiming to have taken down at least 58 Pakistani soldiers, while Pakistan reported over 200 Afghan casualties.
Analysts say the airstrikes have “effectively nullified” the truce and deepened mistrust between the two nations.
Political heat: Khawaja Asif issues warning
Amid the escalating tension, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a blunt warning to Kabul.
“They (Afghan nationals) now have their own government in Kabul… Our land and resources belong to 250 million Pakistanis,” Asif said, adding that Afghan nationals must “return to their country.”
He also accused the Taliban regime of acting as a “proxy for India”, intensifying the diplomatic strain.
Sports meets geopolitics
Afghanistan’s decision to withdraw from the tri-nation series underscores how sports and geopolitics often intersect in times of conflict.
The ACB said it “could not in good conscience participate in a tournament” involving Pakistan while the country mourned its players.
International cricket commentators have called it a “symbolic but powerful move” that reflects the depth of public anger in Afghanistan.
“The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime,” Afghan international cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi wrote on Facebook.
The ceasefire, once seen as a first step toward de-escalation, is now hanging by a thread. While Doha talks are still scheduled, the airstrikes and subsequent cricket pull-out have hardened public sentiment in Afghanistan.
Diplomatic observers warn that relations between Islamabad and Kabul may reach their lowest point since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
