Pakistan Cricket Board breaks silence over Afghanistans withdrawal, says Tri-series to go as per schedule

PTC News Desk: Pakistan Cricket Board broke silence over  Afghanistan's pullout from the Tri-series following tragic deaths of three cricketers. The board said that the tournament will be held as per the schedule despite Afghanistan's withdrawal from the series. 

A senior PCB official said they are in talks with a few other boards to replace Afghanistan in the tri-series, in which Sri Lanka is the third side.

“The Tri-Series will progress as scheduled even after Afghanistan’s withdrawal. We are looking at a replacement team and once finalised, the announcement will be made. The Tri-Series features a third team in Sri Lanka so it is on from 17th November,” he said.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that it would not be sending its team to Pakistan for the tournament, citing the tragic death of three cricketers, which it claimed occurred in Pakistan’s air strikes in Paktika province.

Afghanistan has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan since attaining Test status, although its A teams often toured Pakistan before ICC recognition, and many Afghan players received training there.

At one point, Pakistan even allowed Afghan cricketers to participate in its domestic tournaments. According to a reliable source, the PCB’s international cricket department is now considering associate member teams such as Nepal and the UAE as possible replacements for Afghanistan, though their preference remains a Test-playing nation for the planned tri-series.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20 series from November 11 to 15. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained, and even during the Sharjah tri-series that included the UAE ahead of the Asia Cup, spectators from both countries were seated separately to prevent altercations.