Afghanistan follows India, cancels bilateral cricket series with Pakistan after Kabul bomb blast

The Afghanishan Cricket Board (ACB) has cancelled their bilateral cricket series with Pakistan in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Kabul on Wednesday May 31.

Afghanistan have blamed the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), although officially it has not been found out if the attack was really masterminded from Pakistan.

However, their bilateral cricket series consisting of two-match T20 friendlies in both countries, stands cancelled now. While the first match was scheduled to take place in July in Kabul, the second was due to happen in Lahore in August.

So, after India, even Afghanistan are not in the mood of forging cricketing ties with Pakistan, accused of terrorism by several nations now.

Afghanistan stands by India, again

In 2013, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowed Afghanistan to train their cricket team at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

However, after months of introspection, the ACB decided to shift their base from Sharjah to the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in India.

Afghanistan wants peace between India and Pakistan

"Relations with Pakistan doesn't mean we don't have relations with India. We're always thinking of balancing the relations between Pakistan and India," ACB chairman Atif Mashal said to PCB chief Shaharyar Khan during their meeting last week.

"India is also a strategic partner, a friend, and they also support Afghanistan cricket. Pakistan did a great job in the development of Afghanistan cricket and we value both nations.

"We know there is tension in the border but it's my job to keep this interaction between two cricketing nations going and to help governments start something positive.

"We are trying our best to keep sports, especially cricket, away from politics as well as looking for our national interests."

After IPL, Pakistan players to be shunned from Afghanistan's Shpageeza Cricket League?

While it's not known if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will ever again allow the Pakistani players to participate in the IPL, the news of Afghanistan following suit means they will not invite the Pakistani cricketers in their IPL-style Shpageeza Cricket League, reports ESPN Cricinfo.

The tournament started in 2013, with the 2017 edition of the T20 league scheduled for July. The matches take place at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium in Afghanistan.