By Faham Uddin

Copyright timesnownews

Afghanistan’s T20I captain Rashid Khan didn’t mince words as he lashed out at Pakistan for the airstrikes on civilian infrastructure that killed eight people, including three cricketers, near the Pakistan border. Rashid called the attack ‘barbaric’ and said that he stands with the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to withdraw from upcoming matches against Pakistan. Notably, Afghanistan were set to participate in the tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month, but following the attack, the ACB decided to pull out of the series. “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 wrote on X “It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and must not go unnoticed. “In light of the precious innocent souls lost, I welcome the ACB’s decision to withdraw from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time, our national dignity must come before all else,” he added. What Did ACB Say On Killings?The ACB identified the cricketers as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, saying that the players had traveled from Urgun to Sharana in eastern Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, to play a friendly match, adding that upon returning to Urgun, the players were killed in a ‘cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistan regime. “The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime,” ACB wrote on X. “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. recommended by “The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family. The ACB also extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the martyrs and to the people of Paktika Province.