Afghanistan to boycott cricket series in Pakistan after 'strike kills local players'

Afghanistan has withdrawn its national team from a cricket series in Pakistan after strikes in an eastern border province killed three local players, the national governing body said.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on social media cricketers had been "targeted during a gathering" in Urgun district, Paktika province, on Friday after they had returned home from a friendly match in Sharana. Paktika officials said the strike on a home killed 10 people in total.

Recent border clashes between the South Asia neighbours have killed dozens and wounded hundreds more, in the worst violence between the two countries since the Taliban seized power again in 2021. Peace talks were scheduled to take place in Doha on Saturday amid a ceasefire.

ACB spokesman Said Nasim Sadat identified the players killed as Kabeer Agha Argon, Sibghatullah Zirok, and Haroon, who, as per custom for many Afghans, only goes by one name. The wounded cricketers were treated in hospital.

"We are athletes and ambassadors of peace," said fellow player Saifullah Khan, who also attended the hospital. "We don't want there to be any more bombings or killings like this." Several thousand people attended the funeral prayers in Paktika on Saturday, sitting outside as sermons and condemnations blared through loudspeakers.

"The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family," the board said in its statement. "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." Afghan captain Rashid Khan and the Afghanistan Sports Journalists Federation welcomed the decision, the latter calling the strikes a "barbaric and shameful act, which stands in clear violation of all international laws".

The tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, was scheduled for 17-29 November in Rawalpindi and Lahore. It is a part of preparations for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan's military did not respond to a request from the Reuters news agency for a comment on the airstrikes..