Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran dies at 38 after prolonged illness

Former fast bowler and one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket, Shapoor Zadran, died at the age of 38 following a courageous battle with a rare illness. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) shared the news on social media on Tuesday, July 7, prompting an outpouring of grief across the cricketing community.

Zadran had been undergoing intensive medical care at a hospital in New Delhi since January. His brother, Ghamai Zadran, along with former national captain Asghar Afghan, had accompanied him to India after the bowler first felt unwell in his home country last October.

"With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast



bowler Shapoor Zadran," the ACB said in an official statement.

"Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a vital role in the rise and development of the game in our country. He was among the proud cricketers who stood at the heart of Afghanistan’s early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage."

The robust left-arm pacer had been fighting an advanced form of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening disorder of immune regulation where overactive white blood cells attack the body's own organs.