'We got clear evidence that attack was by Pakistan' - ACB spokesperson on airstrike that killed three Afghan cricketers

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) spokesperson Sayed Naseem Sadaat said on Tuesday, October 21, that they have clear evidence, including video footage, showing that Pakistan was responsible for the attack that killed three local cricketers in Afghanistan’s Urgun district.

Following the incident last week, the ACB had withdrawn the national team from next month’s Tri-Nation T20I Series in Pakistan. Sadaat’s statement comes just days after the Pakistani government issued a statement disputing reports that the cricketers had been killed in an airstrike.

"We got evidence from 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. 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,” Sadaat said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Earlier, on Friday, October 17, in a post on X, the ACB stated that the attack had claimed several lives, including three local cricketers, Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who were on their way home after playing a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province.

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

Sadaat not only strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrike but also called on all other cricket boards to denounce the attack. He emphasised that cricket is a symbol of peace and should remain untouched by war, urging that both the players and the sport be protected from the impacts of conflict.

"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,” said Sadaat.

In the aftermath of the incident, both the ICC and BCCI expressed their solidarity with the ACB. Following Afghanistan’s withdrawal from the tri-series, Zimbabwe accepted the invitation to participate as the third team in the contest, alongside Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The series is scheduled to begin on November 17, with the home team facing Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, which will also host the second match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The action will then move to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which will stage the remaining five matches, including the final on November 29.