Former Afghan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran died at the age of 38 after a long illness

Shapoor Zadran (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran died in India on Tuesday, a day before his 39th birthday, after prolonged illness. He was being treated at a hospital in Greater Noida after being diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening disorder in which the immune system becomes severely overactive.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the news and paid tribute to one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket.“It is with deep sadness and grief that the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing away of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran,” the ACB posted on social media.

Pioneer of the rise of Afghanistan

Zadran was among the first generation of Afghan cricketers who helped change the country’s fortunes on the international stage. Renowned for his left-arm pace and aggressive bowling, he represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches between 2009 and 2020, featuring in 44 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).He was instrumental in Afghanistan’s remarkable rise from an emerging cricketing nation to a regular at global events, helping the team qualify and compete in the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.His contributions during the formative years of cricket in Afghanistan earned him widespread respect among teammates and fans, with many seeing him as one of the architects of the national team’s success.

Fighting disease

Zadran battled HLH for several months. According to his younger brother Ghamai Zadran, the former pacer first fell ill in October last year before doctors in Afghanistan advised him to travel to India for specialist treatment, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.In May, Afghan stars Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan visited Zadran at the Greater Noida Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.Nabi shared a photo from the visit and described the emotional moment he saw his former teammate strapped to a hospital bed.News of Zadran’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the cricketing fraternity, with former teammates, officials and fans remembering him not only for his feats with the ball but also for his immense contribution to the growth of Afghan cricket during its formative years.