Former Afghanistan Pacer Shapoor Zadran Dies at 38 After Prolonged Illness

Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, one of the pioneers of the country’s cricketing rise, has died at the age of 38 after a prolonged battle with a rare illness.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced his passing on Tuesday, with tributes pouring in from across the cricketing fraternity.

Zadran had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in New Delhi since January after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening disorder that causes the immune system to attack the body’s own organs. He travelled to India with his brother, Ghamai Zadran, and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan after falling seriously ill in Afghanistan last October.

Announcing his death, the ACB hailed Zadran as one of the key figures behind Afghanistan’s emergence in international cricket.

“With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran.”

The board said his passion, commitment and dedication helped lay the foundation for Afghan cricket’s remarkable journey from an emerging side to a respected international team.

BATTLE WITH A RARE DISEASE

According to his family, Zadran’s illness was aggravated by a severe infection that spread across his body, including tuberculosis that reached his brain.

“It was a very serious infection. His whole body was full of the infection, including TB. It also spread to his brain,” his brother Ghamai Zadran told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year.

Although he showed signs of improvement and was briefly discharged from hospital, his condition deteriorated again after the infection returned. He was readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he passed away just a day before his 39th birthday.

A FOUNDING FIGURE OF AFGHAN CRICKET

A left-arm fast bowler known for his pace, aggression and trademark long run-up, Zadran was among the first generation of cricketers who helped put Afghanistan on the world cricket map.

His most memorable moment came during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, when he scored the winning runs against Scotland in Dunedin to secure Afghanistan’s maiden World Cup victory. His emotional celebration after sealing the dramatic one-wicket win remains one of the defining images in Afghanistan’s cricket history.

The ACB paid tribute to his contribution both on and off the field.

“Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honour, courage and pride. Beyond his achievements on the field, he inspired generations of young Afghan cricketers with his fighting spirit, determination and love for the game.”

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Zadran retired from professional cricket in January 2025, ending a career that spanned more than two decades.

He made his international debut in 2009 and went on to play 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 T20 Internationals for Afghanistan. While his last appearance for the national team came in 2020, he continued to feature in domestic cricket until 2022.

More than his numbers, Shapoor Zadran will be remembered as one of the architects of Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket—a player whose passion and perseverance helped shape one of the sport’s most inspiring success stories.