The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially withdrawn its team from the upcoming T20 Tri-Nation Series scheduled to be held in Pakistan next month, following deadly airstrikes near the border that reportedly killed three young Afghan cricketers.
The tri-series, which was set to feature Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka from November 17 to 29, 2025, in Lahore and Rawalpindi, now faces uncertainty after Afghanistan’s sudden pullout.
According to Afghan officials, the victims — Kabir Agha Argun, Sabghatullah Zerok, and Haroon — were returning home from a local friendly match in Paktika’s Argun district when they were allegedly struck by a Pakistani aerial operation.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board released a statement calling the incident “a tragic loss for Afghanistan’s youth, sports, and cricketing community,” adding that “in respect for the victims and their families, the board has decided to withdraw from the upcoming series.”
Former captain Rashid Khan, currently playing in India, condemned the attack on social media, calling it a “heinous and heartless act,” demanding justice for the slain players.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a clarification, expressing regret over the situation but maintaining that the incident was unrelated to cricketing matters. PCB also announced it is exploring alternatives to keep the tri-series alive, possibly by inviting another team.
The boycott has once again exposed the fragile relationship between Islamabad and Kabul, where sports — especially cricket — have often served as a rare bridge amid political and border tensions.
Sports analysts say Afghanistan’s decision marks one of the most significant diplomatic gestures in South Asian cricket in recent years, with potential implications for future bilateral and multilateral tournaments.
If the withdrawal remains final, the PCB may have to alter the format or replace Afghanistan with another side to maintain the schedule. However, the incident has already sparked global concern over the growing overlap between geopolitics and international sport in the region.
