Afghanistan Cricket Board BLASTS Pakistan over drone attack that claimed lives of 3 players, says, ‘ We got…’

New Delhi:  The Afghanistan cricket community was left in shock following a drone strike in Paktika province that claimed the lives of three promising cricket players. Three promising cricket players were killed in a drone strike in Paktika province, shocking the cricket community in Afghanistan. Speaking on Tuesday, ACB spokesperson Sayed Naseem Sadaat said they have video footage and other clear evidence linking Pakistan to the attack.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has withdrawn the national team from the Tri-Nation T20I Series in Pakistan next month in response to the tragic event that occurred last week.

Pakistan’s goverment denied claims of airstrike

Sadaat’s remarks came shortly after the Pakistani government issued a statement denying claims that an airstrike had killed any cricketers.

“We got evidence that all the cricket fraternity and all the people around the world would have definitely watched our video report on the incident that was made by our media team. So, we got clear evidence that the attack was done by a Pakistani state,” Sadaat told ANI.

“After the incident, the management of the Afghanistan Cricket Board decided to cancel Afghanistan’s participation in the tri-series that was going to be hosted by Pakistan.”

Three promising cricket players were killed

Three local cricket players, Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, were returning home from a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, when the strike broke out, the ACB said earlier on Friday.

“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” it said in a statement.

Sadaat urged cricket boards worldwide to speak out against the attack

Condemning the airstrike, Sadaat urged all cricket boards worldwide to speak out against the attack, emphasizing that cricket represents peace and must stay free from the impacts of war.

“We call upon all the cricket boards to condemn such barbaric attacks because cricket is a game that carries the message of peace. Cricketers are peace ambassadors, and they should stay away from the war. War should not be interfered with in sports. So we call upon all the cricket fraternity and boards to condemn such attacks and keep cricket away from war,” he said.

Zimbabwe has agreed to participate in the T20I series

Following Afghanistan’s withdrawal from the T20I tri-series amid escalating cross-border tensions with Islamabad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Zimbabwe has accepted their invitation to participate in the tri-series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Zimbabwe has agreed to participate in the T20I tri-series after Afghanistan withdrew due to escalating cross-border tensions with Islamabad.

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