Afghanistan scraps T20 with Pak: Oppn slams Centre over 'priorities'

Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Priyanka Chaturvedi has slammed the government and the BCCI for agreeing to participate with Pakistan in the Asia Cup despite the Pahalgam attack.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | October 18, 2025 10:16 AM IST

3 min read

Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Priyanka Chaturvedi has said that it was not about politics, but about lives lost (File photo).

The Pakistani air strike on Afghanistan and the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s action against the Pakistan cricket board seems to have kicked up a political row in India. Soon after the late-night attack, which claimed at least 40 lives, as per Afghanistan’s TOLO News, Afghanistan Cricket Board cancelled its tri-nation T20 cricket series with Pakistan scheduled in November. The third nation was Sri Lanka.

Citing the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s stand, Opposition leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Government of India, too, ought to “prioritise nation over sports”. The comment was likely a jab over the BCCI deciding to play with Pakistan, despite the Pahalgam attack, in the recently concluded Asia Cup, which India won.

“Pakistan establishment is made up of a bunch of cowards who thrive on the blood of their innocent victims and get thrashed at the borders. Shame on them. Good to see Afghanistan Cricket Board call off their series matches with Pakistan, maybe BCCI and GoI can take tips on how to prioritise nation over sports,” Chaturvedi said, sharing a post by Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan.

The attack claimed the lives of three local cricketers named Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon from Urgun District.

This isn’t about politics: Priyanka Chaturvedi

In a follow-up post, Chaturvedi said: “Hope SriLanka team will withdraw from this tri series too, in solidarity with the Afghanistan Team. Not to forget even their team was attacked in 2009 by terrorists when on Pakistan tour. Unlike BCCI hope other Asian teams stand in solidarity against Pakistan sponsored terrorism.”

She also sought to clarify that her comments were not about politics but about the lives lost. “Keep Politics out of sports is something that gets thrown around so easily by apologists of the government and the BCCI. This isn’t politics but about terrorism,” she added.

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