Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict 2025: The fragile ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan has collapsed in the most devastating way. A Pakistani airstrike on Afghan soil has left eight people dead, including three rising Afghan cricketers, and injured seven others. The tragic incident has sparked grief, outrage, and strong reactions from Afghanistan’s cricketing icons and officials alike.
ACB Responds, Players Speak Out After Tragedy
In a bold move, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has withdrawn from all upcoming matches against Pakistan in protest, calling the attack not just a violation of the ceasefire but an attack on the future of Afghan sport.
Among the most vocal voices is star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who condemned the airstrike as a “barbaric” assault on innocent lives. In a heartfelt statement, he said:
“I am deeply saddened by the civilian casualties in the recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan. This is a tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their country on the world stage.
Targeting civilian infrastructure is completely immoral and barbaric. These unjust and illegal acts are a serious violation of human rights and should not be ignored. After the loss of precious innocent lives, I welcome the ACB’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming matches against Pakistan. I stand with our people during this difficult time; our national dignity must come first.”
I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage.
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) October 17, 2025
It is absolutely immoral and…
Also Read: Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict 2025: Who Are the 3-Afghan Players Killed in Pakistani Airstrike?
Nabi, Farooqi, and Gurbaz Join in National Mourning
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi also expressed his heartbreak, calling the strike a loss not just for Paktika province but for the entire Afghan cricketing family.
Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi took to Facebook to express his fury, writing:
“The massacre of innocent civilians and our domestic cricketers by these oppressors is a heinous, unforgivable crime.”
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz added a prayerful message for the deceased:
“We received the news with great sadness that several of our country’s players were martyred by the ruthless enemies of our country in Arghun district of Paktika province.
I pray to God Almighty to grant them a place in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and may God Almighty teach a lesson to our country’s enemies. Ameen.”
Cricket, Once a Symbol of Unity, Now Caught in the Crossfire
The three cricketers killed – Kabir Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were not just domestic players. They were young dreamers, grinding their way through Afghanistan’s competitive cricket landscape in hopes of one day wearing the national jersey. Their lives were taken not on the battlefield, but on the journey home from a friendly match, a heartbreaking reminder that no one is safe when conflict spills into civilian life.
This attack doesn’t just mark a political escalation – it has robbed a nation of its youth, its hope, and its sporting pride.
What Comes Next?
The ACB’s immediate withdrawal from the tri-series in Pakistan could be just the beginning of a wider sporting and diplomatic fallout. As tensions rise, Afghanistan’s cricket community has come together in solidarity and grief.
For a country where cricket has often provided escape, unity, and national identity, the pain runs deeper than the loss of players – it’s the loss of possibility, potential, and peace.
Also Read: Pakistani Airstrike Near Border Kills 8, Including 3 Afghan Cricketers
