NEW DELHI: Pakistan's federal minister for information, Ata Tarar, has criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he called a "selective" and "biased" response to the deaths of three Afghan cricketers in an aerial attack in Afghanistan's Paktika Province.
Both the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had issued condolence statements on Saturday, mourning the loss of the players but without making any mention of Pakistan - a move that drew strong disapproval from Tarar.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who lost their lives in a recent airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. pic.twitter.com/1Euy3dbVYb
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 18, 2025
The statements came shortly after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan next month. Following Afghanistan's pullout, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Zimbabwe would replace Afghanistan in the series, which also features Sri Lanka.
"We dismiss and condemn this statement by the ICC which gives the impression and makes claims that three Afghan cricketers were killed in Pakistan strikes," Tarar said in a statement on Sunday.
BCCI mourns death of three Afghan cricketers killed in Paktika airstrike
"The ICC has not bothered to independently verify the claims by the Afghanistan board and issued a statement claiming a Pakistan attack," he said.
The minister said Pakistan itself had been a victim of terrorism for years and demanded the ICC correct its statement.
"It is strange that a few hours after the ICC statement, the Chairman of the ICC Jay Shah repeated the same words on his social media account and the Afghanistan board followed with similar words.
Deeply saddened by the loss of three young Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, whose dreams were cut short by a senseless act of violence. The loss of such promising talent is a tragedy not just for Afghanistan but for the entire cricketing world. We stand…
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) October 18, 2025
"The Afghanistan board made statements without presenting any real evidence," he added.
Several Afghan cricketers, including stars such as Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib, had condemned the aerial attack and the subsequent deaths in strong language through their social media posts on Saturday.
Tarar said the recent happenings, including the no-handshake episode in the recent Asia Cup, could be taken as a biased approach towards Pakistan cricket.
"This seriously raises questions on the ICC’s independence and unbiased approach. An international sports governing body should not be promoting a controversial claim yet to be verified.
"The ICC should remain independent and avoid making contentious statements on the incitement of others," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
