Afghanistan mourns Shapoor Zadran, postpones domestic T20 league as a mark of respect

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has postponed two days of matches in the ongoing 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League in honor of former fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, who died on Tuesday at the age of 38. The board announced that the scheduled matches on Wednesday July 8 and Thursday July 9 will not be played as a mark of respect to one of the pioneers of Afghan cricket.

In an official statement, the ACB said the decision was taken “as a mark of respect and tribute to the late Shapoor Zadran”. The revised schedule for the rest of the T20 tournament will be announced in due course.

“As a mark of respect and tribute to the late Shapoor Zadran, the scheduled matches on Wednesday July 8 and Thursday July 9 in the 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League 2026 have been postponed,” the ACB wrote in a statement. Courtesy: Afghanistan Cricket Board

LAST FAREWELL PLANNED IN KABUL

The ACB also confirmed the arrangements for Zadran’s funeral. His remains were expected to arrive at Kabul International Airport on Wednesday before being taken to his family residence in Sadr-e-Azam Township, Bagrami District. Funeral prayers will be held at the historic Eidgah Mosque in Kabul on Thursday morning, after which he will be laid to rest at Maranjan Hill.

The board said its officials, along with members of the Afghan national team, would attend the funeral service to pay their last respects to the former left-arm pacemaker. The postponement of the country’s premier domestic T20 competition underscores the immense respect that Zadran commands within the Afghan cricketing fraternity.

“The mortal remains of late Shapoor Zadran will arrive at the Kabul International Airport today, Wednesday, at 4:00 PM and will then be taken to his family residence in Sadr-e-Azam Township, Bagrami District,” another ACB statement said.

“Funeral prayer will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Eidgah Mosque in Kabul. After the prayer, the late Shapoor Zadran will be laid to rest in a special burial ceremony at Maranjan Hill in Kabul.”

PIONEER OF AFGHANISTAN’S RISE IN WORLD CRICKET

Zadran was among the first generation of cricketers who helped establish Afghanistan on the international stage. He made his international debut in 2009 and represented his country in 80 matches across formats, including 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is. The left-arm seamer took 43 ODI wickets and 37 T20I wickets before playing his last international in 2020.

He is best remembered for his heroic contribution during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he smashed a match-winning boundary against Scotland to secure Afghanistan’s first ever World Cup win. Zadran also finished as Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in that tournament with 10 wickets, cementing his place in the country’s cricketing folklore.

Zadran was being treated in New Delhi for hemophagocytic lymphocytic lymphocytosis (HLH), a rare and serious disorder of the immune system, before he died a day before his 39th birthday.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from teammates, former players and fans, with many remembering him as one of the architects of Afghanistan’s remarkable rise from an associate country to a full member of the International Cricket Council.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

08 Jul 2026 13:55 IST