Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, who played a key role in his country's rise in international cricket, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 38 following a prolonged illness, as announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

Zadran had been undergoing medical care at a New Delhi hospital since January after being diagnosed with an advanced case of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an uncommon immune condition causing overactive white blood cells to target the body's organs.

His family noted that his health was further complicated by a severe infection, which included tuberculosis that had spread to his brain.

When he fell ill in Afghanistan last October, his brother Ghamai Zadran and former Afghan captain Asghar Afghan traveled with him to India.

In an official statement, the board expressed that, "With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran".

Operating as a left-arm fast bowler, Zadran debuted internationally in 2009, making 44 one-day international and 36 Twenty20 international appearances for the national side before his final international match in 2020.

He carried on playing domestic cricket through 2022 and formally announced his retirement in January 2025.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board described him as one of the "foundation-laying figures" of the squad, noting that his commitment aided Afghanistan in cementing its standing in global cricket.

Zadran is fondly remembered for scoring the winning runs during Afghanistan's historic 2015 Cricket World Cup match against Scotland in Dunedin, which marked the nation's maiden victory at a 50-over World Cup.

Praising his legacy, the board stated, "Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honor, courage, and pride". Zadran passed away just a day prior to his 39th birthday.