A Friendly Game Turns Fatal
What was meant to be a peaceful evening of camaraderie and sportsmanship turned into a heartbreaking tragedy in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. Three club-level Afghan cricketers—Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon—were killed on Saturday during Pakistan’s cross-border airstrikes, shortly after playing a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of the province.
A Gathering That Ended in Loss
After their game, the trio was invited for dinner at a friend’s home in Urgun District. Sadly, the airstrike struck before they could share their meal. Friends who had initially planned to attend chose to stay back due to fatigue—decisions that inadvertently spared their lives.
“Some of the players said they were too tired to join,” noted a participant in an online panel discussing the tragedy.
According to eyewitnesses and former Afghan cricketers, the attack was carried out in three separate waves—initially striking the area, followed by two additional assaults before darkness had set in.
ACB Confirms Martyrdom
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officially confirmed the deaths of the three young athletes and five other civilians from the Urgun District. In a public statement, the board expressed its deep sorrow:
“In this heartbreaking incident, three players—Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon—alongside five other fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had traveled to Sharana for a friendly cricket match and were targeted during a gathering upon their return.”
Honoring the Fallen
While no immediate plans have been confirmed, the ACB is considering naming future tournaments after the fallen players to honor their legacy and passion for cricket.
“For the time being, we have no such plans, but hopefully there will be tournaments named after these players to keep their memory alive,” an ACB official mentioned during the discussion, speaking in Pashto.
Tri-Nation Series: Afghanistan Withdraws
In response to the tragedy, the ACB has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation series being hosted by Pakistan, featuring Sri Lanka. In their place, Zimbabwe has been added to the fixture, scheduled to take place between November 17-29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Global Condemnation and Mourning
The incident sparked global outrage. The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed its deep shock:
“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 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also issued a heartfelt statement:
“The BCCI stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns this ghastly and unwarranted attack.”
A Region on Edge
The Urgun district, located along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, has become a flashpoint amid increasing military tensions between the two nations. Airstrikes have reportedly impacted not just Paktika, but other regions including Kabul. Amid mounting violence, officials from both countries are expected to meet in Doha for peace negotiations in the coming days.
