Afghanistan withdraw from T20 tri-series in Pakistan amid border clashes

Tournament was scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17-29

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has supported the decision to withdraw from the tri-series in Pakistan. Reuters

Afghanistan have withdrawn from a T20 tri-series, scheduled to take place in Pakistan next month, following escalating tensions between the neighbouring countries.

Dozens of troops and civilians have been killed after border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan cricket board announced that their team will not be participating in the tri-series. The board also stated that three local cricketers had died as a result of the fighting in the southeastern Paktika province.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were due to meet in the tournament scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17-29.

"‎The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family," the Afghanistan board said in a statement.

"‎In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the ACB has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in November."

Afghanistan captain and star cricketer Rashid Khan welcomed the decision to withdraw from the tri-series.

The tri-series was part of preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup that will take place in India and Sri Lanka.

It would have been the second tri-series featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan in four months after both teams competed in a three-nation tournament in the UAE in September. Pakistan beat Afghanistan in the final of that tournament.

Afghanistan says 58 Pakistani troops killed in border attacks

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The International Cricket Council condemned the attack, saying it stands in solidarity with the ACB.

"The 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 governing body said in a statement.

"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."

India's cricket board said in a statement: "The BCCI stands in solidarity with the ACB, the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns this ghastly and unwarranted attack."

Cricket matches between the two nations had become increasingly tense in recent years.

Before the tri-series in the UAE, Rashid had urged for calm among fans following crowd unrest during the 2022 Asia Cup in Sharjah.

At that time, seats were ripped out and hurled at opposing fans. The then Pakistan board chairman Ramiz Raja termed the incident as “hooliganism”.

Special security arrangements were made in Sharjah to this year prevent any untoward incidents.

The two teams also participated in the Asia Cup in the UAE but did not face each other.