Kabul: There is growing outrage in the cricketing world after Pakistan carried out an airstrike that killed eight people, including three young local players returning from a friendly match in Afghanistan. Cricket fans on social media have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and major cricket-playing nations to immediately ban Pakistan from the sport.
Afghanistan withdraws from tri-series
Pakistan is facing global condemnation for what has been described as a cowardly act of targeting cricketers. Afghanistan’s veteran spinner and captain Rashid Khan has harshly criticized Pakistan’s brutality. In protest, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has withdrawn its team from the upcoming triangular T20 series that was to be held in Pakistan from November 17 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, which was also to feature Sri Lanka.
For months, voices in India have been demanding that India refuse to play against Pakistani cricketers. However, the reality is that under ICC and Olympic rules (as cricket is now part of the Olympic Games), every member nation must play against all qualifying nations — even if the opponent is a hostile country.
India has not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2009, but in multinational events such as the World Cup and Asia Cup, India must face Pakistan. Refusing to do so could lead to India’s disqualification.
The three players who were killed
The three Afghan cricketers killed in Pakistan’s airstrike were Kabir, Sibgatullah, and Haroon. They were returning from an exhibition match in the city of Sharana to Urgun district of Paktika province when they were hit by Pakistani military fire. Seven others were also injured in the attack.
A reliable source said that the international cricket department of the PCB was currently even looking at associate member teams including Nepal and UAE as replacements for Afghanistan, but their priority is to get a Test playing nation to participate in the tri-series.
Irfan Pathan expresses grief
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan paid tribute to the deceased Afghan players on social media, writing:
“I am deeply shocked to hear this news. My heartfelt condolences to the people of Afghanistan.”
What fans said on social media
- Wazma Sayal, a female cricket fan, wrote:
“All sporting ties with Pakistan should be cut off. Blacklist Pakistan completely. Ban every match against them. Expressing grief alone is not enough for the martyred Afghan cricketers.”
- Yash from Jaipur commented:
“If Russia can be banned from the Olympics and the World Cup, and if Israeli players can be barred by football clubs, why is Pakistan still allowed to play cricket? Doesn’t the sport have any sense of humanity left?”
- Saurav Trivedi, another fan, said:
“Cricketers are symbols of peace, unity, and hope. Targeting them is an act of cowardly brutality by Pakistan. Is this Pakistan’s defense policy—to target civilians and sportsmen? The international community must not remain silent anymore.”
- T. Varad, a cricket enthusiast, wrote:
“In 2009, Pakistani terrorists failed to attack the Sri Lankan team near Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, but now Pakistan’s own terror-linked army has done the same to Afghan cricketers. Pakistan should be expelled from the ICC. Cricket is called the gentleman’s game — and Pakistan has become a huge stain on it.”