Afghanistan’s T20I captain, Rashid Khan, has made a notable adjustment to his social media bio by removing the mention of Lahore Qalandars, his Pakistan Super League (PSL) team. This decision comes in the wake of Afghanistan’s stance to opt out of the upcoming tri-nation T20I series in Pakistan as a form of protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes, which tragically resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, including three young cricketers.
Rashid, a prominent figure in the realm of international cricket, had previously listed his affiliations with major teams in his bio, including the Afghanistan national team, Gujarat Titans (IPL), Adelaide Strikers (BBL), and Lahore Qalandars (PSL). However, the exclusion of Lahore Qalandars from his bio has left only the IPL and BBL teams along with the national side.
This alteration in his bio followed Rashid’s issuance of a poignant statement denouncing the airstrikes and endorsing the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) resolution to withdraw from the Lahore tri-series, initially scheduled from November 17 to 29, featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Expressing deep sorrow over the civilian casualties in the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan, Rashid highlighted the loss of innocent lives, including women, children, and aspiring cricketers, emphasizing the need to prioritize human rights and national dignity. The ACB confirmed the identities of the three young cricketers – Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon – who lost their lives in the airstrikes, with seven others reported injured.
In response to this tragic event and as a mark of respect for the victims, the ACB declared their withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan. Afghan cricketers have vehemently condemned the airstrikes, with Gulbadin Naib labeling them as an attack on their people, pride, and sovereignty, and Fazalhaq Farooqi describing them as a heinous and unforgivable act.
Various cricket governing bodies, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressed condemnation for the tragic incident in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated discussions with Zimbabwe, Nepal, and the UAE to find a replacement team for Afghanistan in the tri-series.