Afghanistan Pulls Out Of T20 Tri-Series With Pakistan: ACB Spokesperson Gives Exclusive Details

Last Updated:October 19, 2025, 14:55 IST

News18 spoke to ACB spokesperson Sayed Naseem Sadat on the reason behind the decision

The ICC released a statement expressing that the board "is deeply saddened and appalled" by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers. (PTI)

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has pulled out its team from a tri-series in Pakistan next month, after three local cricketers died in a Pakistani military strike. The ACB, on X, said following the airstrikes, it decided not to send its team to Lahore and Rawalpindi for the T20 tri-series in November, which also involved Sri Lanka.

News18 spoke to ACB spokesperson Sayed Naseem Sadat on the reason behind the decision.

Pakistan attacked our innocent people: Sadat

“Pakistan attacked our innocent people in Paktika district in an airstrikes and three were local cricketers who were playing domestic format. After that, we decided to cancel our participation in Tri Series that was going to be hosted by Pakistan. For every Afghani, including leaders and cricketers, the country is the top priority. We stand strong with our innocent people," he said.

“We have not sought any official apology from Pakistan, but everyone is condemning Pakistan and sharing their grief with the families. We will take all decisions in national interest. We are shoulder to shoulder with our people," he said.

“Cricket is a gentleman’s game and gives message of peace. We are under no pressure from our government on this decision. We are an independent board and we have taken decision in solidarity with our country," Sadat said.

“We have taken a decision not to play independently without any pressure. Those who are breaking international norms and breaking peace should stand against these people. On government level, they are doing their business and talking, but we can talk only for ACB. We want sports to be different and separate from political issues or war," he said.

ACB urges ICC to take decisive actions

The ACB extended its gratitude to the Cricket Council (ICC) for standing in solidarity over the killing of three domestic players in an airstrike in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province. The ACB urged the ICC to take “decisive" actions against those responsible for the “inhumane attack".

The ACB earlier confirmed that the players, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, were among eight people killed in the airstrike in the Urgun district, saying it was “carried out by the Pakistani regime".

In response to the attack, Afghanistan announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I series involving Pakistan, scheduled to commence on November 5.

The three local 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. In its statement, the Afghanistan board described the attack as “a cowardly act carried out by the Pakistani regime."

On Saturday evening, the ICC released a statement expressing that the board “is deeply saddened and appalled" by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers. The ICC “strongly" condemned the act of violence and said that it stands in solidarity with the ACB and echoes their grief.

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board extends its sincere gratitude to the @ICC for issuing its statement following the ACB’s appeal. This gesture genuinely reflects the ICC’s neutrality, compassion, and commitment to fairness in expressing its sorrow and sympathy over the tragic martyrdom of young domestic cricketers in Afghanistan," ACB wrote on X.

With ANI Inputs

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