Zimbabwe to replace Afghanistan in Pakistan tri-series following the latter’s withdrawal due to political tension.
Zimbabwe to play tri-series in Pakistan after Afghanistan’s withdrawal.
In Pakistan’s forthcoming triangular Twenty20 International series at home next month, Zimbabwe will take Afghanistan’s position. Sri Lanka will also play in the series, which will take place in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 17 to 29.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) declared earlier today that it would not be participating in the tri-series after three local cricket players were killed in what it claimed was a cross-border incident in the Urgun province.
The ACB stated in a post on X that the attack had taken the lives of multiple people, including three local cricket players who had been on their way home from a “friendly” match in Sharana, the provincial capital of Paktika. “The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” it said in a statement.
Describing the incident as “tragic”, the ACB said “as a gesture of respect to the victims” it had “decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series.” The ICC and the BCCI joined the ACB in mourning the loss of life of the cricketers.
The PCB stated that the tri-series would go as planned, with Afghanistan replaced by another team, but it has not issued any formal comments on the situation in response to Afghanistan’s announcement. The PCB only mentioned that it had previously been informed of “Afghanistan’s inability” to take part in the tri-series in the statement announcing Zimbabwe’s participation.
Zimbabwe will play host Pakistan in Rawalpindi to start the series, and two days later, they will play Sri Lanka there. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the remaining matches.