Three Afghanistan cricketers were killed in the Pakistan airstrike late on Friday. They were among the 40 people killed in the atttack. As per Tolo News, the attack was targeted at residential neighbourhoods in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak district, with most of the casualties reportedly being women and children.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed its sorrow and grief over the deaths of the cricketers. The three cricketers were from Urgun district in Paktika Province, said ACB, adding that they were “targeted in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime”.
“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 traveled 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 said.
Afghanistan cancels tournament with Pakistan
The ACB said it considered this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. “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 board announced its decision.
Pakistan’s attack on Afghanistan
According to local Afghan officials, the air raids struck civilian homes directly.
Karimullah Zubair Agha, Head of Public Health in Spin Boldak, was quoted as saying by Tolo news, “Civilian casualties are extremely high. Yesterday’s airstrikes further increased the numbers. We now have 170 injured and 40 dead.”
The attacks mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, drawing widespread condemnation and concern.
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Witnesses and survivors alleged that Pakistan deliberately targeted civilian structures and non-combatants in violation of international humanitarian law.
Haji Bahram, one of the survivors, said, “I’ve never witnessed such injustice. A country that calls itself Muslim bombed our women, children, and homes. Issues like this should be resolved through dialogue.”
Another survivor, Abdul Zahir, stated, “They bombed Muslim women and children. Pakistan carried out this act with complete audacity.”
Noorghali, who was injured in the strikes, said, “There were no military forces here — only civilians and a local market — yet we were attacked.”
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Beyond the airstrikes, artillery shelling from across the border has also hit civilian areas in Nokli, Haji Hassan Kelay, Wardak, Kuchian, Shorabak, and Shaheed, causing widespread destruction to homes and property.
The victims were laid to rest in the central cemetery of Spin Boldak district, where hundreds of locals attended the funeral.
The situation in Spin Boldak is now calm, with markets slowly reopening and residents beginning to assess the devastation.
