Afghanistan cricketers, ACB officials visit Kabul airstrike victims, extend support

New Delhi — Members of the Afghanistan national cricket team, along with officials from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), visited hospitals in Kabul to meet people injured in a reported Pakistani airstrike on a medical facility.

ODI and Test captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, accompanied by teammates Gulbadin Naib and Qais Ahmad, went to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital and Kabul Emergency Hospital. They interacted with the injured, spoke to survivors, and expressed solidarity with victims and their families.

The visits come amid growing anger and grief within Afghanistan’s cricketing community over reports of significant civilian casualties in Kabul.

Sharing details on social media, the ACB said its officials and players, led by CEO Naseeb Khan, met the injured, enquired about their condition, and condemned the attack. The board added that it would help organise aid and urged citizens and businesses to support those affected during this difficult time.

Earlier, the ACB had strongly criticised the alleged airstrike, which, according to Taliban officials and local media, left over 400 people dead and at least 250 injured. The board described the incident as deeply tragic, noting that what should have been a time of joy during Ramadan ahead of Eid had instead turned into mourning for many families.

In its statement, the ACB expressed condolences to the victims’ families, denounced violence against civilians, and offered prayers for those who lost their lives.

Meanwhile, Afghan cricketers Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq also spoke out, condemning the reported strikes. They called attacks on civilian infrastructure a war crime and urged the United Nations and human rights organisations to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

With inputs from IANS