It was to be an easy night of happiness — laughter, food, and celebration following a friendly Afghan cricket match in Sharana.
But what started as a group of young players in Urgun district, Paktika, ended in tragedy as an airstrike by Pakistan hit the location, claiming eight innocent lives. They included three young cricketers — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon Khan — boys who started with a bat and a ball and finished much too early.The news has rocked Afghanistan’s cricketing soul.
In a nation where the sport is not just a sport — it’s hope, it’s unity, and it’s healing — the deaths of these young cricketers appear personal to each Afghan who has ever supported their nation.
Kabeer: A Local Hero Who Dreamed Big
Kabeer, one of Urgun’s young cricketing stars, was respected by his friends for his hard work and humility. He wasn’t yet famous — but everybody around him knew that it could only be a question of time. “He trained until the sun set,” said one of the local trainers who had watched him practice.” He aspired to represent Afghanistan’s colors one day.His friends recall that Kabeer never missed an opportunity to coach younger children. His cricket bat, which is now splintered and among the rubble of the airstrike, was something he was very proud of. Not only is his death his family’s sorrow, but also that of each young Afghan.
Sibghatullah: The Future That Never Came
Next came Sibghatullah — the kid everyone referred to as the future of Afghan cricket. While very little is known about him outside of local cricket circles, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed he was one of the emerging talents likely to move up the ranks in the years ahead.”He had discipline and concentration you rarely see in a player his age,” said an older coach in Paktika. “He was a cool, level-headed kid who loved the game.” The ACB, in its statement of condolence, referred to Sibghatullah and his teammates as “symbols of Afghanistan’s youthful resilience.” For a country rebuilding itself through sport, to lose such promise is to be slapped with a bitter reversal — one that even words can hardly describe.
Haroon Khan: Star in the Making Of the three,
Haroon Khan, 19, was already a name to be reckoned with in cricket circles. Born on March 15, 2006, in Kabul, Haroon had already represented his country in List A, T20, and first-class games—a feat uncommon for someone so young. Coaches recall him as being a dignified right-handed batsman with an elegant batting style and a quiet confidence that set him apart.He was a gent on and off the field,” said one of his teammates. “Haroon wasn’t an ordinary player; he was a leader. He had the dreams of so many on him.”Now, his vacant place in the dressing room is a tale of promise unfulfilled — of runs never scored and games never played.
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The Afghanistan Cricket Board issued a moving statement: We are deeply saddened by the loss of our young cricketers in Paktika. They were the future of Afghan cricket — hope, pride. Our deepest condolences to their families and peace to their souls.From across Afghanistan, cricket clubs and academies have lit candles in memory of the three. In villages and cities, people are not just grieving the loss of young lives, but the loss of promise — the kind of promise that brought Afghan cricket out of the dust of war and into the world’s consciousness.
Cricket: Afghanistan’s Language of Hope
Cricket has made Afghans smile during adversity over the years — an opportunity to rejoice in oneness over ethnic, linguistic, or political barriers. They became heroes not just because they won games but also because they demonstrated hope could thrive even in adverse conditions for Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
The passing of Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon reminds the world of how delicate that hope is. And yet, in the same breath, they remind us of that invincible Afghan spirit. Those young men might no longer step onto the pitch, but their dreams , their passion , will still resonate in every cheer, every boundary, and every young cricketer picking up a bat for the first time.
As Afghanistan grieves its fallen sons, the cricketing world’s message is still one of love, togetherness, and remembrance:Though they died before they could don the national jersey, in Afghans’ hearts, they will live as champions forever.
