Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed his deep sorrow and condolences following the death of Shapoor Zadran, the former Afghanistan national cricket team fast bowler, describing him as one of the pioneers and early stars of Afghan cricket.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Karzai wrote that he was deeply saddened by the news of Shapoor Zadran’s passing. He stated that Zadran made unforgettable contributions toward strengthening the Afghanistan national cricket team and helping it gain international recognition. Karzai added that Zadran achieved remarkable milestones in the rise of Afghan cricket and that his name will forever remain in the country’s sporting history.
The former president also extended his sympathies to Shapoor Zadran’s family, friends, and the wider Afghan cricket community.
Shapoor Zadran passed away on Tuesday after several months of serious illness. He had been receiving treatment for an extended period at a hospital in New Delhi, India, after being diagnosed with stage four hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare condition involving excessive activation of blood and immune cells.
Zadran announced his retirement from international cricket on January 30 of this year. He represented Afghanistan in 44 One Day International (ODI) matches and 36 Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, taking 43 and 37 wickets respectively. He was regarded as one of Afghanistan’s most influential and effective fast bowlers.
Following Shapoor Zadran’s death, numerous cricketers, fans, and public figures described his passing as a major loss for Afghan cricket and expressed their condolences to his family.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
