The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun discussions with multiple boards to find a replacement team for Afghanistan in the upcoming T20I tri-series, following the latter’s withdrawal after deadly airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. The tragic incident reportedly killed three young Afghan cricketers and several civilians, leading to the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to pull out in protest.
ACB Withdraws in Protest After Deadly Airstrikes
The tri-series, initially scheduled to start on November 17 in Lahore, was set to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. However, the ACB confirmed its withdrawal as a mark of respect for the victims of the attack. The cricketers who lost their lives were identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, from Paktika province’s Urgun district.
“In response to 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,” the ACB said in an official statement.
“The ACB expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Paktika Province, who were targeted in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime. This is a great loss for Afghanistan’s sporting community,” the statement added.
The board also extended condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed solidarity with the Afghan people.
PCB Confirms Series Will Continue as Scheduled
Despite Afghanistan’s withdrawal, the PCB has confirmed that the tri-series will proceed as planned, with all matches to be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the final on November 29.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒊-𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒇𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒍. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆,” 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝑷𝑪𝑩 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅.
Zimbabwe Emerges as Replacement Frontrunner
Reports suggest that the PCB is already in discussions with Zimbabwe, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to fill the vacant slot. Among them, Zimbabwe is currently the frontrunner, with the PCB preferring a full-member Test-playing nation to maintain the competitive edge of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan condemned the airstrikes, calling them “immoral and barbaric,” and supported the ACB’s decision to withdraw from the event.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also released a statement expressing “deep sorrow” over the loss of the Afghan players, condemning the violence and offering condolences to the ACB and the bereaved families.
Also Read: AUS vs IND 2025: Irfan Pathan reveals India’s XI for Perth ODI, picks 23-year-old pacer
