Kabul: The cricketing world is still shocked by the deaths of three young Afghan cricketers caused by a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province on the night of October 17.
The incident occurred when Kareeb Agha, Haroon, and Sibgatullah, as the trio was named, were going back to their homes after a club match in the area. The Pakistan airstrike, however, hit the residential areas, leading to the escalation of the Afghanistan, Pakistan border dispute.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) not only confirmed the deaths but also reacted with huge sorrow. In a statement, the board announced their withdrawal from the T20 series scheduled against Pakistan in November. The ACB also condemned the attack and pointed out that a few other players too have suffered injuries. This event has deteriorated already bad relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, leading to the latter being snubbed over the trination series together with Sri Lanka.
International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairperson Jay Shah was very sad on hearing the news. In his social media message, Shah called the airstrike a “senseless act of violence that took away the bright future” and went on to show his support for the ACB by saying, “The murder of these talented players is a tragedy not only for Afghanistan cricket but for the entire cricketing fraternity.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) equally reacted to the news in a very negative way, the BCCI equated the airstrike with a “cowardly act” in their criticism. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, “We are in solidarity with the ACB and the families of Kareeb Agha, Sibgatullah, and Haroon in condemning this terrible occurrence. The killing of innocent people, particularly brilliant athletes, is something we deeply ache for.”
The event has led to an upsurge in agitating for punitive measures against Pakistan in the cricket world. There is much talk about whether Shah, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council, will be the one to call for such measures, particularly as India has been pushing for this move for a long time citing tensions as the reason for which Pakistans’ cricket team should be banned. The cricketing community awaits the ICC’s next steps, as the tragedy underscores the devastating intersection of sport and conflict.