Former Afghanistan fast bowler and one of the pioneers of the country’s rise in international cricket, Shapoor Zadran died in New Delhi on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said. He was 38.
Zadran, who played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan between 2009 and 2020, had been undergoing treatment in New Delhi after being diagnosed with stage four Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening disorder that causes severe inflammation and can damage multiple organs. He had been in the intensive care unit since May.
According to the ACB, Zadran’s health deteriorated after he fell ill in October last year. Doctors advised him to seek advanced treatment in India, and with the support of Rashid Khan and ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf, his medical visa was expedited. He was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi on January 18.
Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan frequently travelled between Dubai and Delhi to be by Zadran’s side, while Rashid Khan and several other Afghanistan players remained in touch with his doctors and family. Although he initially showed signs of recovery, his condition worsened following repeated infections, dengue and a sharp decline in his red blood cell count.
Paying tribute, the ACB said Zadran had served Afghanistan cricket “with honour, courage and pride” and that his contributions would remain an integral part of the country’s cricketing history.
The board also described him as an inspiration for young Afghan cricketers, saying his resilience, determination and love for the game encouraged a generation to dream bigger and believe in the future of Afghanistan cricket.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board extends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to his family, friends, loved ones, former teammates, and the entire Afghan cricket community. His loss is deeply felt, and his memory will forever remain alive in the hearts of the people of Afghanistan and the cricketing world,” the board said.
-IANS
