ICC Chairman Jay Shah has paid tribute to former Afghanistan quick Shapoor Zadran, remembering him as one of the players who helped shape Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket.
File Photo: IANS
ICC Chairman Jay Shah has paid tribute to former Afghanistan quick Shapoor Zadran, remembering him as one of the players who helped shape Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket.
Zadran passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday after a long illness, just a day before his 39th birthday. The former left-arm pacer had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in the national capital after being diagnosed with stage four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. He was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in May after his condition deteriorated following repeated infections, dengue and a sharp fall in his red blood cell count.
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His health issues began in October last year, and doctors later advised him to seek treatment in India. With support from Afghanistan star Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf, his visa was fast-tracked, allowing him to begin treatment here in January.
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Reacting to the news of Zadran’s passing, Shah offered his condolences and acknowledged the former pacer’s contribution to Afghanistan cricket.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of former Afghan cricketer Shapoor Zadran at the age of 38. Shapoor played a significant role in Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket and will always be remembered for his match-winning all-round performance against Scotland in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, which secured Afghanistan’s first-ever World Cup victory,” Shah wrote on social media.
“Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire Afghanistan cricket fraternity. May his soul rest in peace,” he added.
Zadran represented Afghanistan in 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 T20 Internationals between 2009 and 2020, taking 80 international wickets. He was one of the most recognisable faces of Afghanistan cricket during the team’s rapid rise and played a key role in helping the country establish itself on the world stage.
His most memorable performance came during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, when his all-round display against Scotland guided Afghanistan to their first-ever World Cup victory, a landmark moment in the nation’s cricket history. Even after retirement, Zadran remained a respected figure in Afghan cricket and inspired many young players who followed in his footsteps.
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