SRINAGAR: Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran died in India following a prolonged illness, a day before his 39th birthday. He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Greater Noida after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening disorder in which the immune system becomes severely overactive.
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran.
Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication,… pic.twitter.com/iPIAJ6HLkq
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) July 7, 2026
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed his death and paid tribute to one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket.
“With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran,” the ACB said in a post on social media.
Zadran was among the first generation of Afghan cricketers who helped establish the country’s presence on the international stage. A left-arm fast bowler, he represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches between 2009 and 2020, including 44 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
He played a key role in Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket, helping the team qualify for and compete in the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His performances during the formative years of Afghanistan cricket earned him widespread recognition from teammates, officials and supporters.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Zadran had been battling HLH for several months. His younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, said the former pacer first fell ill in October last year before doctors in Afghanistan advised him to travel to India for specialised treatment.
In May, Afghanistan cricketers Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan visited Zadran at the Greater Noida hospital where he was receiving treatment. Sharing a photograph from the visit, Nabi described the emotional experience of seeing his former teammate in hospital.
News of Zadran’s death prompted tributes from across the cricketing world, with former teammates, cricket officials and fans remembering him for both his achievements on the field and his contribution to the development of Afghanistan cricket.
