Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has expressed grief over the killing of three Afghan cricketers in recent airstrikes by Pakistan and called for peace and unity amid the tragedy that has rocked the cricketing fraternity.“Condolences to the families of the young #Afghanistan cricketers who lost their lives in the recent attack. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. May their memories inspire peace and unity,” Yuvraj wrote on X.
Pak-Afghan Border Clash: Airstrike Kills 3 Afghan Cricketers, ACB and Rashid Khan Blast Islamabad
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Friday that three domestic players had been killed in an airstrike near the Pakistan border, prompting Afghanistan to pull out of a tri-nation series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month.According to the ACB, the players traveled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province near the border to take part in a friendly match. The board said they were “targeted by the gathering after returning home to Urgun” in what it described as a “cowardly attack by the Pakistani regime”.ACB identified the players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon and added that five other people also lost their lives in the strike. The council said it “considers this a great loss to the Afghan sports community, its athletes and the cricket family”, while expressing “deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families”. The ACB added that its decision to withdraw from the tri-series was made “as a gesture of respect for the victims”.Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan also took to social media and wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan… aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.”He added, “In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the decision of the ACB to withdraw from the upcoming matches against Pakistan.”Cricketers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammad Nabi also condemned the attack, calling it an “unforgivable crime” and a “tragedy for the entire Afghan cricket family”.
