‘Deeply saddened’: Jay Shah mourns death of former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran

Jay Shah and Shapoor Zadran Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died at the age of 38 after battling hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare disorder of the immune system. He was undergoing treatment in the Delhi-NCR region for several months. His death was confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board, while International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah also paid tribute as he recalled Zadran’s major contribution to Afghanistan cricket.Shah expressed his condolences on X and praised Zadran for helping Afghanistan make a name for itself in international cricket. He also recalled the all-round performance against Scotland in the 2015 ODI World Cup that secured Afghanistan’s first ever World Cup victory. He wrote: “Deeply saddened by the passing away of former cricketer Shapoor Zadran at the age of 38. Shapoor played a significant role in Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket and will forever be remembered for his all-round performance against Scotland in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. family, friends and the entire Afghan cricket fraternity may his soul rest in peace.”The Afghanistan Cricket Board described Zadran as one of the pioneers of the country’s cricketing journey and said, “Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundational figures of Afghan 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 heart of Afghan cricketers who stood at the beginning of the cricketing journey of Afghanistan cricket. A journey that brought Afghanistan cricket to the international stage.” He added: “Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honour, courage and pride. His contributions and achievements will always remain an important part of Afghanistan cricket history and his efforts in the service of the national team will never be forgotten.” Zadran represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches between 2009 and 2020.