Tragedy in Paktika! Three Afghan cricketers killed in Pakistan border attack; former captain Mohammad Nabi breaks down | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan have pulled out of a tri-national series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month after three local cricketers were killed in an attack, the country’s cricket board confirmed on Friday. According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the players had traveled from Urgun to Sharana in the eastern province of Paktika, near the Pakistan border, to take part in a friendly match.The ACB said that “after returning home to Urgun, they were targeted at a rally” in what it described as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”The committee identified the three players as “Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon”, and added that five others were also killed in the attack. No further details about the incident were provided.The ACB said it “considers this a great loss to the Afghan sporting community, its athletes and the cricket family”, while extending its “deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families”.He added that the decision to pull out of next month’s tri-series was taken “as a sign of respect to the victims”.Afghan international cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi expressed his grief on social media, writing: “The massacre of innocent civilians and our national cricketers by these oppressors is a heinous and unforgivable crime. »Another international player, Mohammad Nabi, commented: “This incident is not only a tragedy for Paktika but for the entire Afghan cricket family and the nation as a whole.”