Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf and national team players mourned the loss of three young Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who were killed in cross-border
airstrikes by Pakistan in Paktika province. They offered prayers for the victims.
The ACB posted on its X account, sharing photos and a detailed message. “ACB Chairman @MirwaisAshraf16, along with several national players including @RahmatShah_08, Zahir Khan, Fareed Malik, and Shabir Noori, as well as several ACB officials, visited Paktika Province yesterday to meet with the families of those martyred in the recent Pakistani airstrikes. During the visit, Ashraf and the delegation expressed their heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the bereaved families and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”
Mirwais Ashraf stated, “Our young players’ dreams were shattered. They had great hopes and ambitions for a prosperous Afghanistan, but the enemies of humanity and peace have cruelly buried those hopes. On behalf of the ACB, I express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. We stand with them in this painful time and are deeply grieved by this tragedy.”
“Following the prayer and condolence ceremony, Ashraf, accompanied by the national players, also visited the site where the young cricketers were laid to rest, offering prayers for their souls and paying tribute to their memory,” the post added.
ACB Chairman and National Players Offered Prayers for the Victims of the Paktika Tragedy
ACB Chairman Mr. @MirwaisAshraf16, along with several national players including @RahmatShah_08, Zahir Khan, Fareed Malik, and Shabir Noori, as well as several ACB officials, visited Paktika… pic.twitter.com/kmCM5vCKZr
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 21, 2025
BCCI & ICC Offer Condolences
The BCCI and ICC also expressed condolences and condemned the act. The three young men had returned home after participating in a friendly cricket match and were killed in the attack, which also claimed the lives of several citizens.
Earlier this week, Afghanistan withdrew from a tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka scheduled for next month, as a response to the airstrikes. Afghanistan was supposed to take part in the tri-series in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29.
(With inputs from Agencies)
