, Oct. 18 -- Afghanistan have withdrawn from next month's tri-nation cricket series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka following the killing of three Afghan cricketers in an attack, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Friday.

According to the ACB, the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana in Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, to take part in a friendly match. "After returning home to Urgun, they were targeted during a gathering," the board said, describing it as "a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime."

The ACB identified the victims as "Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon," adding that five other people also lost their lives in the assault. While the board did not provide further details, it said th...