Afghan Cricket Team Withdraws From Pakistan T20I Series Over Airstrikes Fallout

In a escalation of the diplomatic and military tensions along the Durand Line, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially announced its withdrawal from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series scheduled to be held in Pakistan. The unprecedented move comes as a direct protest against recent Pakistani military airstrikes inside Afghanistan, which the ACB confirmed resulted in the death of three young cricketers alongside other civilians. The series, originally planned for November 17-29 in Lahore and also featuring Sri Lanka, will now see Zimbabwe step in as the replacement team. This decision was underscored by powerful statements from Afghan cricketers, including the country's star leg-spinner and former captain, Rashid Khan, who publicly condemned the airstrikes on X (formerly Twitter), calling them “unlawful actions” and a “grave violation of human rights,” adding that he fully supported the ACB’s stance as "national dignity must come first."

The move by the ACB comes despite an immediate ceasefire agreement reached between high-level delegations from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye. The political and security situation remains highly sensitive, and the cricket board's action signals the deep emotional and nationalistic resentment over the cross-border strikes. For its part, the Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that the strikes were strictly counter-terrorism operations. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the military had carried out "precision strikes" targeting militants, specifically the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group, operating from Afghan soil, reporting that approximately 70 militants had been killed. Despite this official justification, the casualties of the young cricketers have turned the diplomatic spat into a major national crisis for Afghanistan, one that now directly impacts regional sportsmanship and cultural ties. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the logistical changes for the series, but the long-term impact of this withdrawal on future sporting ties between the neighboring nations is expected to be profound, reflecting the difficult path ahead despite the newly brokered temporary ceasefire.

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