Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died at the age of 38 after battling a serious illness. He had been receiving treatment at a hospital in India for several months.
Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran passed away in India after a prolonged illness, Afghan cricket sources said.
Zadran had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in New Delhi after suffering from multiple health complications, including cancer and a rare life-threatening immune disorder known as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH.
Initial reports said he was also suffering from a critical deficiency of white blood cells. His condition had reportedly improved during the early stages of treatment before deteriorating again in recent days.
No official details have yet been released about when his body will be returned to Afghanistan.
Afghan cricket mourns major loss
The Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed grief over Zadran’s death, remembering him as one of the key figures in the rise of cricket in the country. His brother and former Afghanistan cricketer Dawlat Zadran also paid an emotional tribute.
“Heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend and brother, Shapoor Zadran,” Dawlat wrote. “Words cannot express this loss.”
Tributes also poured in from former teammates, cricket officials, fans, and members of the Afghan cricket community.
Pioneer of Afghanistan cricket
Born in Paktia province in 1987, Shapoor Zadran was part of the generation that helped take Afghanistan cricket from relative obscurity to the world stage.
He made his international debut in 2009 and played his final match for Afghanistan in 2020.
A tall left-arm fast bowler, Zadran was known for his pace, aggressive bowling, fighting spirit, and animated celebrations. He became one of Afghanistan’s most recognisable players during the national team’s formative years.
Zadran represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches, including 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 Twenty20 Internationals. He took 43 wickets in ODIs and 37 wickets in T20Is, finishing with 80 international wickets.
He also represented Afghanistan in other international competitions and was part of several major ICC tournaments, including three ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaigns and Afghanistan’s first 50-over Cricket World Cup appearance in 2015.
Afghanistan’s historic 2015 World Cup win
One of the defining moments of Zadran’s career came at the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Afghanistan defeated Scotland by one wicket to claim their first-ever Cricket World Cup victory, a landmark moment in the country’s cricket history.
Zadran, better known for his fast bowling, was at the crease during the tense chase and hit the winning runs, creating one of the most memorable images of Afghanistan’s early cricketing success.
Retirement after 22 years in cricket
After several years away from international cricket, Zadran formally announced his retirement in January 2025.
“Today is the day I never wanted to face, but it eventually comes for every player,” he wrote at the time.
He said he was retiring after 22 years of “service, sacrifice, and love for cricket,” adding that cricket had been his “passion, identity, and purpose.”
Zadran said he had dreamed since childhood of representing Afghanistan and was proud to have helped raise the country’s flag on the international stage.
Legacy of fighting cricketer
Shapoor Zadran belonged to the generation of Afghan cricketers who helped reshape the country’s sporting identity despite decades of conflict and limited resources.
His contributions helped Afghanistan qualify for major global tournaments and eventually become a Full Member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.
Former players like Zadran are widely credited with laying the foundation for Afghanistan’s rise as one of the fastest-growing teams in world cricket.
For Afghan fans, he will be remembered not only as a fast bowler, but as a symbol of commitment, pride, and belief during the early rise of Afghanistan cricket.
