Afghanistan Players withdrew from the opening auction of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the deteriorating ties between the two countries. Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rehman, Seddiqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil and Fazalhaq Farooqi had registered for the February 11 event but later opted out, a franchise owner confirmed.
The Afghan players’ decision comes in the wake of the severe backlash over Peshawar Zalmi’s immediate signing of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Gurbaz eventually withdrew from the tournament due to criticism.
PSL CEO Salman Naseer claimed to the contrary that some Afghan players were in the auction pool but found no takers. Although he confirmed that the Gurbaz episode was on the minds of the other Afghan cricketers, who ultimately decided to stay away from any involvement in the competition.
“There was a severe backlash [Peshawar] Zalmi signed Gurbaz due to the fractured relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and after Gurbaz withdrew himself from the PSL. So the other players also decided it was better to avoid backlash,” Naseer told Times of India.
Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated since the Pakistani army’s airstrikes in Afghanistan’s border provinces, which reportedly targeted militant hideouts. Several Afghan cricketers criticized Pakistan’s militant activity, particularly after one of the attacks killed three local cricketers, prompting Afghanistan pull from their tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan had called the attack “immoral and barbaric” while welcoming the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to opt out of the series involving Pakistan.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan,” Rashid had written in a statement on social media. “A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children and young cricketers who dreamed of representing their country on the world stage.
“It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to attack civilian infrastructure. These unjust and unlawful actions represent a grave violation of human rights and should not go unnoticed,” he had added.
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