[ad_1]

Zimbabwe Cricket Team | Source: X.com

Zimbabwe will take Afghanistan’s place in the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, which will now feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. The series will run from November 17 to 29, with matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The change comes after Afghanistan withdrew following a heartbreaking tragedy in which three domestic cricketers Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon were killed in what officials described as a cross-border attack in Paktika province. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the players were returning from a friendly match when the attack occurred.

“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 ACB said in a statement.

“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.”

As a mark of respect, the ACB announced its withdrawal from the series. “In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan,” it said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the tournament will go ahead as planned, with Zimbabwe stepping in as a replacement team. The series will open with Pakistan vs Zimbabwe on November 17 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The matches will be divided between Rawalpindi and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with the final scheduled for November 29 in Lahore.

[ad_2]

Source link