Afghanistan have withdrawn from their upcoming T20I tri-series involving Pakistan, following ongoing cross-border tensions with the country.
On Friday night, Afghanistan Cricket Board posted a statement informing their decision to withdraw from a T20I tri-series, set to be played from November 17 to 29 in Pakistan, and also involving Sri Lanka.
It was the first time Afghanistan were set to play Pakistan in Pakistan.
Afghanistan withdraw following cross-border attacks
The statement condemned the cross-border attacks in the Urgun district of Afghanistan, which led to the death of three local cricketers in the region.
In their statement, ACB said: "In this heartbreaking incident, three players (Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon) alongside 5 other fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured. The players had earlier traveled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to participate in a friendly cricket match. After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering."
The ACB expressed their "deepest sorrow and grief" over the incident, calling it a "cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime".
As a response to the attack, the ACB stated that they have "decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in late November."
The two teams were involved in a tri-series with UAE in August-September this year. They met thrice in the competition, with Pakistan winning twice (including the final) and Afghanistan winning once. They did not face each other in the Asia Cup that followed, having been placed in different groups. Afghanistan did not qualify for the Super Fours.
Will the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Sri Lanka tri-series go ahead?
Cross-border tension between the two countries have escalated over the past week, despite a 48-hour ceasefire that came into effect on Wednesday.
The tri-series will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore. According to the original schedule, Afghanistan were supposed to play Pakistan in the opener on November 17 as well as November 25. The final is scheduled for November 29.
It remains to be seen whether the series goes ahead, potentially with a replacement, just between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, or if it is postponed altogether.
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