Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran passes away after prolonged illness

Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran, who played a prominent role in Afghanistan's rapid rise in international cricket, has died at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness. Zadran had been receiving treatment at a hospital in New Delhi after being diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder.

He had been hospitalised in India since January and was readmitted after his condition worsened following an initial period of improvement. A left-arm fast bowler, Zadran made his international debut for Afghanistan in 2009 and played his final international match in 2020. He was widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Afghan cricket and played a key role in the team's emergence on the global stage.

“Heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend and brother, Shapoor Zadran. Words cannot express this loss,” his brother Dawlat Zadran wrote in a statement.

Shapoor represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches, claiming 43 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 37 wickets in T20 Internationals (T20Is). He featured in three ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaigns and was also part of Afghanistan's squad for its maiden appearance at the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.

One of the defining moments of his career came during that tournament in Dunedin, New Zealand, when Afghanistan defeated Scotland by one wicket to register its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory. Better known for his left-arm pace bowling, Zadran remained unbeaten at the crease during the tense run chase and struck the winning runs, sealing a historic triumph for his side.

“Today is the day I never wanted to face, but it eventually comes for every player. service, sacrifice, and love for cricket. Cricket has been more than just a game to me; it has been my passion, identity, and purpose,” wrote Zadran.

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During his retirement announcement, Shapoor said he had dreamed since childhood of representing Afghanistan and was proud to have played a part in raising the country's flag on the international stage.

Announcing his retirement in January 2025, the Afghanistan Cricket Board described Zadran as one of the key figures behind the rise of cricket in Afghanistan and thanked him for his outstanding contribution to the development of the sport in the country.