For India, the BCCI’s sharp condemnation subtly reinforces New Delhi’s alignment with Kabul’s concerns, while isolating Islamabad on moral and sporting grounds
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of three young Afghan cricketers — Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — reportedly killed in an alleged Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.
In a strongly worded statement, the BCCI described the incident as a “cowardly cross-border airstrike” and extended its condolences to the victims’ families and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
“The BCCI expresses its deep sorrow and condolences on the tragic loss of three young Afghan cricketers… The Board stands in solidarity with the ACB, the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief. The loss of innocent lives, especially those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern,” said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
He added that the BCCI “shares in the pain and loss of the people of Afghanistan” and called the attack “ghastly and unwarranted.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also condemned the deaths and assured the ACB of its support in these difficult times. “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. We stand in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and all those mourning this heartbreaking loss,” ICC Chairman Jay Shah said
In response to the tragedy, Afghanistan has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation series involving Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Despite the withdrawal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly announced that the series would proceed as scheduled and revealed that talks are already underway with other teams to fill Afghanistan’s slot.
This development also adds a diplomatic undertone to the ongoing cricketing tensions between India and Pakistan. The BCCI and PCB have been at odds since the Asia Cup incident, when PCB chief and Pakistan cabinet minister Mohsin Naqvi walked away with the trophy after the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side declined to accept it amid the backdrop of “Operation Sindoor.”
The deaths have cast a long diplomatic shadow across South Asia. Afghanistan’s decision to withdraw from the tri-nation series is being seen as a symbolic rebuke to Pakistan, amplifying calls for accountability over cross-border strikes. For India, the BCCI’s sharp condemnation subtly reinforces New Delhi’s alignment with Kabul’s concerns, while isolating Islamabad on moral and sporting grounds. The incident risks escalating regional tensions, intertwining cricket with geopolitics once again. It also exposes how South Asia’s fiercest rivalries often spill beyond diplomacy and into the heart of its most beloved game.
