Afghanistan cricket pioneer Shapoor Zadran dies aged 38

Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, who played a key role in his country’s rise in international cricket, died on Tuesday at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said. 

Zadran had been receiving treatment at a hospital in New Delhi since January after being diagnosed with an advanced form of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare immune disorder in which overactive white blood cells attack the body’s own organs.

His family said his condition was complicated by a severe infection, including tuberculosis that spread to his brain.

His brother, Ghamai Zadran, and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan accompanied him to India after he fell ill in Afghanistan last October.

“With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran,” the board said in a statement.

A left-arm fast bowler, Zadran made his international debut in 2009 and played 44 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 internationals for Afghanistan. His last international appearance came in 2020.

He continued playing domestic cricket until 2022 and announced his retirement in January 2025.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board called him one of the “foundation-laying figures” of the national team and said his dedication helped Afghanistan establish itself in international cricket.

Zadran is best known for hitting the winning runs in Afghanistan’s victory over Scotland national cricket team at the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Dunedin. It was Afghanistan’s first win at a 50-over World Cup. 

“Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honor, courage, and pride,” the board said.

Zadran died a day before his 39th birthday.

Post by News Desk

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