ICC, BCCI express 'solidarity' with Afghanistan after withdrawal from Pakistan tri-series

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has withdrawn the national team from next month's tri-series in Pakistan following the death of three local cricketers in a cross-border attack in the Urgun district of the country.

Following the incident, the ICC and BCCI expressed solidarity with the ACB, who also urged "the implementation of firm and decisive measures against those responsible for this inhumane attack." Pakistan's government issued a statement contesting the claims that "cricketers" had died in an "airstrike".

In a post on X on Friday, the ACB claimed several lives had been lost in the attack, including three local cricketers who had been returning home after playing a "friendly" match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province. "The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family," it said in a statement.

Describing the incident as "tragic", the ACB said "as a gesture of respect to the victims" it had "decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series."

A day after the ACB's decision, the ICC and BCCI issued statements expressing "solidarity" with the Afghanistan board. "The International Cricket Council (ICC) is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who lost their lives in a recent airstrike in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

"The three young men had returned home after participating in a friendly cricket match when they were killed in an attack that also claimed the lives of several civilians. 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 BCCI said: "The BCCI stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns this ghastly and unwarranted attack. The loss of innocent lives, particularly those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern. The BCCI conveys its heartfelt sympathies to the people of Afghanistan and shares in their pain and loss."

On Saturday evening, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar gave Pakistan's first official response, in a statement on 'X'. "Pakistan, a prime victim of cross-border terrorism, rejects the ICC's selective, biased and premature comment that advances a disputed allegation, as established, that three 'Afghan cricketers' died in an 'airstrike'. The ICC has cited no independent verification to substantiate these claims. Pakistan strongly rejects the characterization and contests the ICC's claim and call for immediate correction."

Following the statement from the ICC, the ACB issued another statement expressing "sincere gratitude" to the governing body. "The ACB has consistently upheld the principle of keeping sports separate from politics and has maintained this stance within the framework of the ICC. The Afghanistan Cricket Board once again strongly condemns this act of violence. While deeply appreciating the ICC's expression of solidarity, the ACB urges the implementation of firm and decisive measures against those responsible for this inhumane attack."

The T20I tri-series, between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, had been arranged by the PCB last month, and was scheduled to be played between November 17-29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The tournament would have been the second tri-series involving Afghanistan and Pakistan this year, following their meeting in August-September prior to the Asia Cup. However, it was to be their first in Pakistan. Afghanistan had previously played in the country in the 2023 Asia Cup and earlier this year in the Champions Trophy, without playing against the host nation.

Pakistan and Afghanistan had been scheduled to play each other twice in the tournament - on November 17 in the series opener, and again on November 23. Zimbabwe will now take Afghanistan's place. The tri-series had been finalised at time when the diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were already deteriorating.