Following Afghanistan's withdrawal from the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the tournament will proceed as scheduled. The ACB pulled out of the series after alleging that three Afghan cricketers were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

The PCB is now actively seeking a replacement team to join Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the tri-series, which is slated to be held from November 17 to 29 in Lahore. "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," a senior PCB official stated.

According to Geo News, the PCB's international cricket department is considering options for a replacement team, including associate member teams like Nepal and the UAE. However, their priority remains securing a Test-playing nation to fill the void.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal from the tri-series following reports that three of their cricketers were killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province. The ACB identified the slain players as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, stating that they were returning home from a friendly match in Sharana when the incident occurred. The ACB also mentioned that seven other people were injured in the attacks. "In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan," the ACB said in a statement.

The airstrikes, which reportedly hit residential areas in the Argun and Barmal districts of Paktika province, have further strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to Taliban officials, at least ten people were killed in the strikes, including two children. Pakistan has yet to comment on the allegations.

The PCB had unveiled the T20 tri-series last month, scheduling the matches to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore. This would have been the second tri-series between Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2025, the first having taken place in the UAE before the Asia Cup 2025.

Afghan cricket star Rashid Khan condemned the airstrikes, calling them "immoral and barbaric" and expressing his support for the ACB's decision to withdraw from the tri-series.