Invited to a friend’s home for dinner — and never returned: Afghan cricketers killed in Pakistan airstrike

Invited to a friend’s home for dinner — and never returned: Afghan cricketers killed in Pakistan airstrike (Photo- ACBofficials)

Following their return from a friendly match in Sharana, three Afghan club cricketers—Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon—were tragically killed in Urgun, Paktika province, by a Pakistani airstrike. Afghanistan's cricket community was shocked by the incident, and the national squad decided to skip the T20I tri-series in Pakistan next month.

After the game, the players are asked to a little dinner, according to accounts collated by Cricbuzz. Some teammates stayed back since they were exhausted from playing cricket that day when the site was repeatedly hit before dusk, those who went were caught.

The investigation into whether the event was caused by a missile attack or Pakistani jets is still ongoing.

The ACB named the fatalities and stated the deaths a tragic loss. In a formal statement, the ICC expressed its profound sadness and horror at the loss of three young cricketers, stating that the attack had deprived the cricketing community, families, and communities of three talented players. The ICC declared its support for the ACB.

In a media advisory, the BCCI also expressed its profound sadness and sympathies and denounced the cruel cross-border airstrikes in Paktika. It said that the board was with the Afghan cricket community in mourning.

The BCCI statement stated: “BCCI stands is solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns the ghastly and unwarranted attack. The loss of innocent lives, particularly those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern.”

The exact manner of the strike is still being verified in a number of reconstructions, despite the fact that the strikes' attribution to Pakistan has been explicitly stated and reported in ACB communications. The human cost is undeniable; the three club cricketers who played for the sake of the game all day never arrived for the scheduled supper.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan denounced the tragic incident. Former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh also offered their condolences.