Afghan cricketers' death in Pak attack: BCCI expresses condolences

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed its deep sorrow and condolences on the tragic loss of three young Afghan cricketers - Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who lost their lives in the cowardly cross-border airstrikes by Pakistan in Paktika province of Afghanistan, IANS reported.

The BCCI stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns this ghastly and unwarranted attack, the Indian cricket board said.

The loss of innocent lives, particularly those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement issued on Saturday.

The BCCI also conveyed its heartfelt sympathies to the people of Afghanistan and shares in their pain and loss.

The International Cricket Council is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic death of the three young Afghan cricketers in a recent airstrike in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

The three young men had returned home after participating in a friendly cricket match when they were killed in an attack that also claimed the lives of several citizens. The ICC strongly condemns the act of violence that has robbed families, communities, and the cricketing world of three bright talents whose only ambition was to play the sport they loved, the ICC said in its statement.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan pulled its team out of a tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka next month in retaliation for the airstrikes. Afghanistan had been scheduled to participate in the tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29.