Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died one day short of his 39th birthday after spending his last months battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in hospital in Delhi.
The news was confirmed by his younger brother Ghamai Zadran, who was with Shapoor since he was moved to Delhi for treatment in January. Shapoor was suffering from an advanced stage of HLH, a rare disease in which the immune system starts failing.
Shapoor was one of the most recognisable faces of Afghanistan's cricket during their rise in the 2000s and 2010s, 6'2" tall, sprinting in of a long run, his long hair flowing as he did. He had, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board said in a statement, a foundational impact on the game there, playing 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, and taking a total of 80 international wickets. He shone especially in the 2015 ODI World Cup - the only World Cup he played - ending up as Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker in Australia and New Zealand with 10 wickets. He played in four T20 World Cups from 2010 to 2016, taking nine wickets in nine matches.
Shapoor was widely known among contemporaries for his generosity and kindness and was a mentoring figure to several younger players, including Rashid Khan. Rashid, former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, and several other prominent cricketers were in touch with Shapoor through his treatment. When Afghanistan toured India in June, their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, head coach Richard Pybus, Qais Ahmed and Zia Sharif visited him in hospital.
"With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran," the board said in a statement. "Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan 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 cricketers who stood at the heart of Afghanistan's early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage.
"Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honor, courage, and pride. His contributions and achievements will always remain an important part of the history of Afghanistan cricket, and his efforts in the service of the national team will never be forgotten.
"Beyond his achievements on the field, Shapoor Zadran was a true source of inspiration for many young Afghan cricketers and for cricket followers across the world. His fighting spirit, determination, and love for the game gave hope to many and encouraged a generation to dream bigger and believe in the future of Afghanistan cricket.
"The Afghanistan Cricket Board extends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to his family, friends, loved ones, former teammates, and the entire Afghan cricket community. His loss is deeply felt, and his memory will forever remain alive in the hearts of the people of Afghanistan and the cricketing world."
Shapoor was born in the Logar Province of Afghanistan but moved to Peshawar in Pakistan when war enveloped the region. He developed his game at the Arbab Niaz Stadium and Gymkhana, and started playing hard-ball cricket in 2001. He had initially hoped to play for Pakistan, naming Shoaib Akhtar as his fast-bowling idol, but when Iqbal Sikander, who played a handful of ODIs for Pakistan, started coaching in Afghanistan, Shapoor moved back there.
"I went a little mad when I saw 500 players at a trial," Shapoor told cricinfo in an interview in 2012. "I said to myself, "Shapoor, it is impossible that you will break through from these 500 players!" I prayed to Allah that I must play for the team. I gave my trial, and I was among the top 50, then the top 25. I was very happy, so I called my family to give them the good news. They were so surprised. I hadn't told them why I was going to Afghanistan - I said I had some work there and went to the trial secretly."
He made his Afghanistan debut in an ODI against Netherlands in August 2009, taking 4 for 24, which remained his career-best figures. He made his T20I debut the following year - against Ireland in February 2010 - and his best figures (3 for 40) in that format came in a 45-run victory against Bangladesh in Dehradun in 2018.