The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not allow its players and coaches to feature in Afghanistan's domestic Twenty20 league next month, after a breakdown in relations between their boards in the wake of Wednesday's truck bomb in Kabul.
At least 80 people were killed and hundreds wounded in Kabul in an attack which, Afghanistan's intelligence agency said, had been carried out by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network with assistance from Pakistan.
Both countries regularly accuse each other of supporting militant groups operating across the border.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) subsequently cancelled all proposed fixtures between the countries, saying "no agreement of friendly matches is possible between both parties".
"In light of the findings of security services and calls by the Afghan nation, the ACB hereby cancel all kinds of cricket matches agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board," an ACB statement said.
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The PCB rejected the ACB's statement on Thursday, describing the allegations as "baseless" and "irresponsible" and accusing the rival board of "playing politics"
"While our sympathies are with the victims and families affected by the tragedy, we reject the irresponsible statement made by the ACB and hereby announce the cancellation of the proposed series between the two countries," a PCB statement said.
Afghanistan and Pakistan were provisionally scheduled to play a Twenty20 match in Kabul later this year, followed by a match in Pakistan. The countries had also previously agreed to face each other in a full series at a yet-to-be announced date.
The PCB further responded to the ACB action by denying permission for the likes of Babar Azam, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal to play in Afghanistan's Twenty20 tournament, despite the players being picked by franchises at last week's auction.
"The PCB announces that none of the players and officials (coaches) contracted to Afghanistan T20 league would be issued NOCs (no-objection certificates)," the Pakistan board said in a statement on Friday.
"No Pakistani player or official can feature in the league."
