Afghanistan Withdraws from Pakistan Tri-Nation T20 Series Following Deadly Airstrike

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced it will withdraw from the upcoming T20I tri-nation series in Pakistan, set for November 17 to 29 in Lahore and Rawalpindi, after an airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province killed three local cricketers. The cricketers had been attending a friendly match in Sharana before the strike.

The ACB described the loss as a profound tragedy for Afghanistan’s sports community and termed the withdrawal a gesture of respect to the victims. Pakistan denied targeting civilians, stating the strike hit militant hideouts, including the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group’s bases.

Star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan supported the board’s decision, emphasizing the principled stand following civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the tri-series will proceed as planned, exploring replacement teams including Nepal or the UAE, with Sri Lanka remaining a participant.

The incident underscores ongoing regional tensions and challenges in organizing international sporting events amid complex geopolitical circumstances.