3 Afghan Cricketers, 5 Others Killed In Pakistani Airstrike On Gathering In Paktika Province

Source :- J Ten News Media 

Front Page / English News 

[18/10, 10:01 am] J TEN NEWS: 3 Afghan Cricketers, 5 Others Killed In Pakistani Airstrike On Gathering In Paktika Province

[18/10, 10:01 am] J TEN NEWS: Three Afghanistan cricketers, and five others were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province amid the ongoing border clashes between the two countries.

[18/10, 10:01 am] J TEN NEWS: 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.

[18/10, 10:02 am] J TEN NEWS: 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”.

[18/10, 10:02 am] J TEN NEWS: 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.

Later, the ACB said that it had decided to withdraw from next month’s tri-series “as a gesture of respect to the victims”.

STATEMENT BY THE AFGHANISTAN CRICKET BOARD

The official statement by the Afghanistan Cricket Board read, “The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”

[18/10, 10:02 am] J TEN NEWS: In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon), alongside 5 other fellow countrymen from Urgun District, were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had earlier travelled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering,” the board stated.

“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. The ACB also extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the martyrs and to the people of Paktika Province,” it added.

[18/10, 10:03 am] J TEN NEWS: In response of this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November,” the statement read.

The ACB concluded its message with prayers for the deceased, stating, “May Allah (SWT) grant the martyrs the highest ranks in Jannah, bless the injured with a speedy recovery, and grant their families patience, reward, and strength during this time of immense grief.”