L-R: Naveen-ul-Haq, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi NEW DELHI: A wave of anger and grief has swept through Afghanistan’s cricketing fraternity following a devastating airstrike in Kabul that reportedly killed around 400 people and injured 250, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s recent history.Leading the outrage was fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who did not hold back in his reaction. “Hard to find any difference between the Israeli and Pakistani regimes,” he wrote on Facebook, drawing a stark comparison that quickly gained traction among fans. Star all-rounder Rashid Khan also expressed his anguish and called the reported civilian casualties deeply disturbing. “I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure… is a war crime,” he wrote. Rashid further added that the “total disregard for human life” during the holy month of Ramadan is “heinous” and urged the UN and global human rights bodies to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. “I stand with my Afghan people… We will heal and rise as a nation,” he added.Former captain Mohammad Nabi shared a deeply emotional message, describing scenes of chaos and loss. “Tonight in Kabul, hope was extinguished in a hospital… Mothers waited at the gate calling the names of their sons,” he wrote, highlighting the human cost of the tragedy.T20I captain Ibrahim Zadran echoed similar sentiments. “Tonight I heard a massive explosion… Kabul is in pain. We pray for justice,” he said, echoing the shock felt across the country.Officials said the strike targeted the Omid Addiction Hospital, the main 2,000-bed facility in Kabul, with large parts destroyed. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid the rubble.The incident further strained already strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban administration, with both sides trading accusations over security concerns. As the humanitarian toll mounts, voices from the world of cricket continue to amplify calls for accountability and justice.
