4 hours ago
Last Updated:October 18, 2025, 08:49 IST
Three Afghanistan cricketers, and five others were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province amid the ongoing border clashes between the two countries.
Afghan servicemen guard along the border in the Zazai Maidan district of Khost province, Afghanistan (Photo: AP)
Three Afghanistan cricketers have been killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province, the country’s cricket board said on Friday, after which it also pulled out of a tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month.
In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in the eastern Paktika province on the Pakistan border to take part in a friendly match.
It said that “after returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering" in what it described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime".
The three cricketers who lost their lives were identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon.
Five other people were also killed in the same attack, it was known.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board said that it “considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family", as it extended its “deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families".
The ACB said that it had decided to withdraw from next month’s tri-series “as a gesture of respect to the victims".
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published:
October 18, 2025, 08:47 IST
News world 3 Afghan Cricketers, 5 Others Killed In Pakistani Airstrike On Gathering In Paktika Province
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