Afghanistan boycott tri-series against Pakistan following cross-border tension

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), on October 18, announced that they have decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to take place in late November. They were supposed to travel Pakistan to feature in the tri-series and face the hosts on November 17.

However, the ACB stated that they had taken the decision to postpone the trip in response to the tragic incident where the Pakistan Army targeted their three players, Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Harron, along with five other fellow countrymen from Urgun district. They were martyred while seven others were injured.

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“In response of this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November. The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province” The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revealed in a statement.

Afghanistan withdraw from participating in T20I series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan

The last face-off between the two sides came in Sharjah during the tri-series where they met in the final. Afghanistan failed to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the recent Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan lost the final to India in Dubai and ended as the runners-up. The left-arm pacer of Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and their T20I captain, Rashid Khan, expressed their emotion on the tragic incident.

“The martyrdom of the civilians and our domestic cricket players by the oppressors is an unforgivable crime. The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricket players by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.” Farooqi wrote on his Facebook page.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.” Rashid Khan wrote on X. It will be interesting to see if Afghanistan shake hands with Pakistan in the ICC events.