Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has expressed his profound grief and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the three Afghan cricketers who tragically lost their lives in the recent airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province. The airstrikes, reportedly carried out by Pakistan, have sent shockwaves through the global cricketing community.

The deceased cricketers have been identified as Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. These young men were returning home from a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, when the incident occurred in the Urgun district on October 17, 2025. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the tragic news and stated that the players were targeted during a gathering after returning to their homes in Urgun.

Yuvraj Singh took to social media platform X to share his sentiments: "Heartfelt condolences to the families of the young #Afghanistan cricketers who lost their lives in the recent attack. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. May their memories inspire peace and unity". His words reflect the widespread sorrow within the global cricket community and highlight the urgent need for peace and unity in response to such tragic violence.

Kabeer Agha was known as an aggressive top-order batter and was nearing selection for the Under-23 provincial camp. Sibghatullah, a medium-pace bowler from the Paktika region, played for Urgun Warriors in local tournaments and displayed leadership potential. Haroon was an emerging all-rounder who combined his cricket career with college studies.

The ACB has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly act". As a sign of mourning and protest, the ACB has withdrawn its team from the upcoming tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan from November 17 to 29. The series was supposed to be Afghanistan's final international engagement of the year.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, describing the three cricketers as "promising talents" whose only ambition was to play cricket. The ICC condemned the "act of violence," noting that it also claimed the lives of several civilians. "The ICC stands in solidarity with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and echoes their grief," the council added. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also expressed its deep sorrow and condemnation, standing firmly with the ACB and the bereaved families.

Several other prominent Afghan cricketers have voiced their condemnation of the attack. Afghanistan's captain, Rashid Khan, labeled the attack as barbaric. Former captain Mohammed Nabi described the incident as a tragedy for the entire Afghan cricket family.

The airstrikes have further strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani officials stated that the "precision strikes" hit a camp of the TTP-affiliated Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, while the Taliban said residential homes were hit, causing civilian casualties.