The whole cricket world is deeply hurt after hearing about the sad and shocking tragedy that hit the Afghanistan cricket team. Three young Afghanistan cricketers lost their lives in an alleged airstrike in Paktika province and left the entire cricket community in deep grief.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has now come forward with a strong statement and strongly condemned the killing of the Afghanistan players in an alleged Pakistan air force attack.
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What did the ICC say about the tragic incident in Afghanistan?
The ICC released an emotional statement and mourned the deaths of the three Afghan players- Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon.
All three were young and full of hope. They were returning home after playing a friendly match when tragedy struck.
The ICC called the attack “deeply saddening and appalling,” and condemned the senseless act that claimed their lives along with several civilians.
In the official statement, the ICC said it stands firmly with the ACB and the families of the players, calling the loss a painful reminder that even dreams born on cricket fields are not safe from violence.
The governing body stressed that the global cricket family shares Afghanistan’s grief and demanded peace for a sport that has always been a source of joy in troubled times.
Earlier, the Afghanistan Cricket Board described the deaths as a “devastating loss” for their cricketing family. In mourning, the board decided to withdraw from the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.
What did ICC Chairman Jay Shah say about the incident?
ICC Chairman and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah also expressed his sorrow in a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Deeply saddened by the loss of three young Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, whose dreams were cut short by a senseless act of violence. The loss of such promising talent is a tragedy not just for Afghanistan but for the entire cricketing world,” Shah wrote.
He further assured that the ICC stands shoulder to shoulder with the ACB and all those grieving this painful loss.
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