Pakistan Slams ICC Over Afghan Players’ Death Statement

Pakistan has voiced strong criticism against the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what it calls a “biased” statement regarding the unfortunate deaths of three Afghan cricketers in Paktika province. The incident occurred amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the cricketing sphere.

Following the tragedy, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal from an upcoming tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, further escalating the situation. Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Ataullah Tarar, claimed the ICC’s statement is misleading and suggests Pakistan’s involvement in the tragedy.

“The ICC failed to independently confirm the allegations and went ahead with a statement accusing Pakistan,” Tarar remarked during a press conference. He emphasized that Pakistan has suffered from terrorism for many years and urged the ICC to reconsider its position.

Key Highlights:

Tarar expressed astonishment that shortly after the ICC’s statement, ICC Chairman Jay Shah echoed similar sentiments on social media. He criticized the ACB for making claims without presenting solid evidence of wrongdoing.

After Afghanistan’s withdrawal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly confirmed that Zimbabwe would replace them in the tri-series. This decision highlights Pakistan’s determination to proceed with the scheduled matches despite the ongoing controversy.