The world of cricket has been rocked by tragedy and controversy, as Afghanistan’s national cricket board announced its withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20 International series in Pakistan following a deadly airstrike that killed three young Afghan cricketers. The incident, which unfolded on Friday evening, October 17, 2025, in the Urgun district of Paktika province, Afghanistan, has sent shockwaves through the sports community and reignited tensions along the already volatile Afghanistan–Pakistan border.
According to official statements from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the three local players—Kabeer Agha Argon, Sibghatullah Zirok, and Haroon—were among eight people killed when a Pakistani airstrike hit a home where they and others were sharing dinner after returning from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital. The ACB described the deaths as “a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.”
The attack did not just claim the lives of these aspiring cricketers. Paktika officials reported that a total of ten people were killed in the airstrike, with at least seven more injured. The tragedy struck as the players were visiting a home in Urgun district, a region that has seen its share of conflict but rarely has the violence intersected so directly with the world of sport.
In the immediate aftermath, the ACB issued a strong statement: “In response to 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.” The series, originally scheduled for November 17-29, 2025, in Rawalpindi and Lahore, was set to feature Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe (after Zimbabwe accepted an invitation to replace Afghanistan). The tournament was intended as a major tune-up for the teams ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The decision to withdraw was met with widespread support inside Afghanistan. Star spinner and national team captain Rashid Khan was among the first to speak out, posting on social media: “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.” He added, “Our national dignity must come before all else.” Fellow Afghan cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi echoed those sentiments, describing the attack as a “heinous, unforgivable crime.”
Several thousand mourners gathered in Paktika on Saturday, October 18, 2025, for the funeral prayers of the victims. The outdoor ceremony was marked by sermons and condemnation broadcast over loudspeakers, with the loss of the three cricketers—none of whom had yet played for the national team—serving as a painful reminder of the conflict’s reach.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also weighed in, issuing a statement that it was “deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers.” The ICC said, “The ICC strongly condemns this act of violence that has robbed families, communities, and the cricketing world of three bright talents whose only ambition was to play the sport they loved.” The Council further emphasized, “The ICC stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and echoes their grief.”
Afghan cricketer Saifullah Khan, who survived the attack and was being treated in hospital, spoke to the media: “We are athletes and ambassadors of peace. We don’t want there to be anymore bombings or killings like this.” The Afghanistan Sports Journalists Federation joined the chorus of condemnation, calling the strike a “barbaric and shameful act, which stands in clear violation of all international laws.”
The violence is part of a sharp escalation in cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported 462 civilian casualties—37 killed and 425 wounded—across six provinces, including Paktika, due to recent hostilities. Notably, the airstrike on Urgun came just hours after a temporary truce between the two countries was set to expire following days of deadly border clashes. Pakistani officials claimed that the airstrike targeted Afghan militants and that at least 70 combatants had been killed, denying any civilian targeting. Pakistan’s Minister of Information, Attaullah Tarar, went so far as to label claims of civilian casualties “false and meant to generate support for terrorist groups operating from inside Afghanistan.” He also criticized the ICC’s statements as “selective, biased and premature,” asserting that no independent verification had been provided.
Despite the official denials from Islamabad, the incident has sparked outrage in Afghanistan and drawn international attention to the ongoing conflict. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged Pakistan to “reconsider its policies, and pursue friendly and civilised relations” with Afghanistan. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, an Afghan delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar, for peace talks with Pakistani officials, including Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The Taliban government stated it would participate in the talks despite what it called “Pakistani aggression,” insisting that dialogue was necessary to restore peace and stability along the border.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded to Afghanistan’s withdrawal by confirming that Zimbabwe Cricket would step in to compete alongside Pakistan in the tri-series. “The tri-series will continue as scheduled with Zimbabwe replacing Afghanistan,” the PCB said in a statement. Pakistan and Afghanistan had last faced each other in a three-nation tournament in the United Arab Emirates in September, with Pakistan emerging victorious in the final.
The deaths of Kabeer Agha Argon, Sibghatullah Zirok, and Haroon have become a symbol of the wider costs of conflict, not just for Afghanistan’s cricketing ambitions but for the nation’s hopes of peace and normalcy. The ACB’s decision to withdraw from the tri-series is both a protest and a gesture of mourning, a reminder that even the world of sport is not immune to the tragedies of war.
As the cricketing world mourns the loss of three young talents, attention now shifts to the ongoing peace talks in Doha and the fate of future sporting ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan. For now, the tri-nation T20 series will proceed without Afghanistan, but the absence of the Afghan team will be felt both on and off the field, a somber testament to the enduring impact of violence on sport and society alike.
