Afghanistan pull out of T20 series in Pakistan amid military conflict

Afghanistan have withdrawn from their Twenty20 international tri-series in Pakistan next month following the death of three local cricketers that the Afghanistan Cricket Board said were due to military strikes in Paktika province.

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Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were due to meet in the tournament scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17-29.

The ACB said in a statement that the three players travelled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to play in a friendly match and later died during the strikes after returning home to the Urgun district.

"The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan's sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family," the ACB said in a statement, mourning the deaths of the players and several others.

"In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the ACB has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in November." The International Cricket Council condemned the attack, saying it stands in solidarity with the ACB and echoes their grief.