Shapoor Zadran’s Fight for Life in India (Special Arrangement) NEW DELHI: It was India’s opening game in the 2012 FIFA T20 World Cup. A star-studded line-up brimming with confidence after a historic ODI World Cup win in 2011 faced an Afghanistan side still trying to figure out the whims and fancies of the ICC’s action, this being their second World Cup appearance.Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag were the openers as India was asked to bat first by then Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal. Facing a 6-foot-2 pitcher is always a daunting task. Ask Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag today and they will remember Shapoor Zadran’s name and how he blew the pair away in his opening World Cup spell, dismissing them for just 10 and 8 runs respectively.
Watch
The Ashok Sharma Story: Inside the Village and House That Shaped India’s New Pace SensationThe well built left arm pacemaker is now bedridden and fighting for his life in India.
Shapoor Zadran suffers from a rare disease
The man who once sprinted to the crease with flowing hair and a menacing left-arm angle is now grappling with an uncatchable foe at the stumps. Shapoor, who will be 39 this July, suffers from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).It is a rare and life-threatening condition where the immune system essentially turns on itself. Instead of protecting the body, the immune system begins to attack healthy tissues and organs, leading to hyper-inflammation and severe damage to the bone marrow, liver and spleen.
He fights very hard, just like in cricket. He never complains of pain or trouble.
Ghamai Zadran, younger brother of Shapoor Zadran
While the disease mostly affects children, it can also make adults susceptible to serious infection. Shapoor, who played 80 internationals for his country between 2009 and 2020, first felt unwell in October last year. What started as tuberculosis and a full-body infection eventually revealed her true, more sinister stage four HLH.
Treatment leading to Delhi
When the condition worsened, medical advice in Kabul was unanimous. “Our doctor in Afghanistan advised us to come to India. Everyone said that the treatment here is very good and the whole world knows that India has some of the best medical services. That’s why we came,” said Shapoor’s younger brother Ghamai Zadran during an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com.Getting him into the right facility was a collective effort. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf and cricketer Rashid Khan used their vast network to expedite the process.
Shapoor Zadran (special arrangement)
Shapoor arrived in India on January 18 and was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in New Delhi.For the Zadran family, who traveled from all over the world to be by his side, medical care in India was a source of comfort.“Honestly, it’s even better than we expected,” added Ghamai, who remains in Canada. “His doctor calls him a ‘hero’ and a ‘legend’. The doctor is very experienced, the staff is excellent and the hospital is great. They are taking really good care of him. We are very grateful.”
The Brotherhood stands guard
Cricket is often called a gentleman’s game, but for the Afghan team, it is a brotherhood forged in the fire of shared struggle. The support for Shapoor was visceral. Former captain Asghar Afghan didn’t just make the call; he came to the hospital for a week to help physically.Even now, he visits every few days to check up on his old teammate.“Raees Ahmadzai, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, they are all calling,” Ghamai told the website. “During the World Cup, Rashid Khan and other players visited him. Even now, Rashid is in close touch with me. When Mumbai and Delhi had a match (in the IPL), Allah Ghazanfar, who plays for Mumbai Indians, came twice. He even offered to help take him to Ambani Hospital if needed. Even the former president of Afghanistan, Hamid, called us yesterday to speak.”
Shapoor Zadran with brother Ghamai Zadran (special arrangement)
Despite high numbers of visitors and offers of help, the family is adamant that they are not looking for money.“Alhamdulillah, our family is financially strong. We don’t need money. We don’t need financial support, just prayers. That’s all we need, prayers,” Ghamai stressed.Shapoor is now a successful businessman in Kabul, running a large company that manufactures doors, windows and other home accessories.The battle is slow. There are small improvements, but the condition remains serious. Once the spearhead of Afghanistan’s fast attack, Shapoor now finds himself in the longest match of his life.He speaks very little and lacks the energy for long conversations, but the spirit that drove him to reject world-class openers in 2012 remains intact.READ ALSO: 1, W, 0, W, 0, W: Praful Hinge’s Dream IPL Debut by Varun Aaron, Glenn McGrathGhamai concluded: “He fights very hard, just like in cricket. He never complains about pain or trouble. He just says, ‘I have fought all my life and I will fight this disease too’.”
