Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died at the age of 38, just a day before his 39th birthday. His death was confirmed by his younger brother Ghamai Zadran, who had been with him since he was moved to Delhi for treatment in January.
Zadran had been undergoing treatment in New Delhi after being diagnosed with stage four haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, commonly known as HLH, a rare and life-threatening condition that causes severe inflammation and can damage organs like the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Although he initially showed signs of improvement, his health later worsened due to repeated infections, dengue, and a sharp drop in his red blood cell count.
Standing at 6’2″ and known for his long flowing hair and fast run-up, Shapoor was one of the most recognizable faces of Afghan cricket during the sport’s rise in the 2000s and 2010s. He played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, taking a total of 80 international wickets. His best performance came in the 2015 World Cup, where he finished as Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets.
Several current players, including captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi, had visited him in the hospital during his treatment. The Afghanistan Cricket Board called him a foundational figure in the country’s cricketing history and extended condolences to his family and fans.
