Shapoor Zadran passes away after prolonged illness

Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran passed away on Tuesday (July 7) at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness. Zadran had been battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an immune system disorder. He was being treated at the Delhi-NCR region for the past few months. Afghanistan Cricket Board made the harrowing announcement of his demise on X. "Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-lying 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," ACB wrote. Zadran had a decade-long international career where he picked 43 wickets in 44 ODIs and 37 wickets in 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020. Zadran also famously hit the winning runs in Afghanistan's historic win in the 2015 ODI World Cup against Scotland. "Beyond his achievements on the field, Shapoor Zadran was a true source of inspiration for many young Afghan cricketers and for cricket followers across the world. His fighting spirit, determination, and love for the game gave hope to many and encouraged a generation to dream bigger and believe in the future of Afghanistan cricket," the ACB statement said.