Cricket often brings nations together. Yet sometimes, it reflects the tension beyond the boundary rope. Earlier today, a deadly attack in Afghanistan’s Paktika province killed eight people. The explosion claimed the lives of three domestic cricketers — Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. Their deaths shocked the cricketing community.
The grief goes beyond the loss of life and shows how fragile peace remains in the region. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) quickly cancelled their upcoming tri-series in Pakistan. They had scheduled the series to begin on November 17. Afghan officials condemned the violence and accused the Pakistani regime of carrying out a “cowardly attack.”
After the tragedy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed deep sorrow. It offered full support to the ACB. Reports said the Indian board sent condolences to the families of the deceased. They called the attack ghastly and unjustified. This gesture didn’t come from formality alone.
The BCCI has long supported Afghan cricket. It provided venues in Greater Noida, Lucknow, and Dehradun when Afghanistan needed a home base during unstable times. India hosted Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match in 2018 and strengthened the bond between the two boards. Now, as the ACB mourns its players, the BCCI’s message shows both compassion and strength. It reminds everyone that friendship in sport stretches beyond competition and speaks of shared humanity.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expresses 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 in Paktika province.
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 loss of innocent lives, particularly those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern. The BCCI conveys its heartfelt sympathies to the people of Afghanistan and shares in their pain and loss,” BCCI wrote.
The political undercurrent behind cricketing ties
The BCCI’s reaction carries more meaning than it first appears. The Indian and Pakistani cricket boards rarely agree on anything, and this tragedy deepened that rift. The ACB cancelled its series with Pakistan, and the ties between Afghanistan and India have started growing stronger. The tone of the BCCI’s statement shows both sympathy and silent firmness. The board’s support for the ACB sends a subtle message to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
This episode follows earlier disputes over the Asia Cup. In that tournament, politics overshadowed cricket. Afghanistan has now distanced itself from Pakistan, and India seems to have found a new ally. The bond looks emotional on the surface, but it carries strategic value beneath. This situation brings the ACB closer to India while leaving the PCB further isolated. The loss of young Afghan cricketers has left a deep wound. Yet even in grief, cricket’s politics shapes new alliances beyond the field.
