Suicide bomber kills three at Kabul Stadium
A terrorist attack at Kabul International Cricket Stadium has left at least three people dead.
The apparent suicide bomb took place during a match on Wednesday in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League, a T20 franchise tournament similar to the Indian Premier League.
Afghanistan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said two of the dead were police officers and the other a civilian.
The Afghan Cricket Board reported that all players at the 6,000-capacity venue were safe while commentator and former Australia cricketer Dean Jones also said he was safe following the blast.
Cameron Delport, a South African batsman playing for the Boost Defenders team, tweeted after the match "sad to hear about the bomb blast during our game outside the stadium. Thank God we are all safe."
Cricket has become one of Afghanistan’s most popular sports and the national team was recently granted Test status.
The Shpageeza tournament is now in its fifth season and is one of a small number of Western-style sports competitions, along with Afghan Premier League football, that have continued to grow since a US-led campaign toppled the Taliban in 2001.
Image: Security at Kabul International Cricket Stadium
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