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Shapoor Zadran Passes Away: Wave of grief in Afghanistan cricket; veteran fast bowler Shapoor Zadran dies at 38
Shapoor Zadran, a former fast bowler and one of the biggest heroes of Afghanistan cricket's early era, has passed away following a long illness. He breathed his last at the age of 38. Shapoor had been battling a severe immune system disorder known as 'Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis' (HLH) for quite some time and had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi-NCR over the past few months.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed this deeply saddening news on the social media platform X.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) pays heartfelt tribute
Remembering Shapoor Zadran's contributions, the ACB wrote:
"Shapoor Zadran was one of the pillars who laid the foundation of Afghanistan cricket. His dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a pivotal role in the development of the sport in our country and in taking it to new heights. He was among the select group of illustrious cricketers who steered Afghanistan's early cricketing journey and paved the path that brought us to the international stage."
The board further added that he was a source of inspiration for the youth off the field as well.
His fighting spirit, unwavering determination, and love for the game inspired an entire generation to dream big and believe in the future of Afghan cricket.International Career and That Historic 2015 World Cup Moment
Spanning nearly a decade from 2009 to 2020, Shapoor delivered outstanding performances for Afghanistan during his international career:
- ODI Career: 43 wickets in 44 matches
- T20I Career: 37 wickets in 36 matches
Historic Moment: Shapoor Zadran’s name was etched forever in cricketing history when he steered Afghanistan to their first-ever World Cup victory against Scotland during the 2015 ODI World Cup. He sealed the win by hitting a boundary in the final over, and his celebratory style remains fresh in the minds of cricket fans to this day.
