Afghanistan has withdrawn from next month’s tri-series in Pakistan following the tragic deaths of three local cricketers in a cross-border attack in the Urgun district. The players were returning home after a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, when the incident occurred.
The T20I tri-series, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, was scheduled to take place from November 17 to 29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had finalized the event last month. However, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal through a post on X, citing the loss of lives, including the three young cricketers, as a major tragedy for the nation’s sporting community.
“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” the statement read. Calling the incident “tragic,” the board added that, as a mark of respect to the victims, it had decided to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation series.
The tournament would have been the second tri-series between Afghanistan and Pakistan this year, following their earlier encounter in August before the Asia Cup. Notably, it was set to be Afghanistan’s first participation in a tri-series hosted in Pakistan. The two sides were due to face each other twice — in the opening game on November 17 and again on November 23.
The decision comes at a time when diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained. While Afghanistan had previously played matches in Pakistan during the 2023 Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy, they had not faced the hosts directly in those events. The PCB has not yet issued an official statement regarding Afghanistan’s withdrawal.
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