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Published : 20 Apr 2026, 09:28 PM
Former Afghanistan left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, who played 80 internationals (44 ODIs and 36 T20Is) and took as many wickets between 2009 and 2020, is currently battling for life in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a New Delhi hospital, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Zadran, 38, is suffering from an advanced form of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare, life-threatening disease, in which the immune system starts failing, the news portal added.
Stage four HLH predominantly occurs in children but can also affect adults who are susceptible to infection or have had cancer.
The patient suffers hyper inflammation triggered by an overactive immune system leading to damage to the body's tissues including the bone marrow, liver, spleen and lymph nodes, according to the report.
Although he now lies curled up in an ICU bed in the Indian hospital where he was admitted in January, Zadran was a presence on the cricket field when he ran in to bowl.
Aggressive and often devastating, he possessed a typical fast bowler's mentality, and described Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar as his idol.
Well-known for his iconic run-up, Zadran first felt unwell last October.
His younger brother Ghamai Zadran told ESPNcricinfo that local doctors advised the cricketer—who stands tall at 6'2" with a broad frame and distinctive flowing hair—to go to India for treatment.
He finally reached India on Jan 18 and was admitted to the hospital, accompanied by his wife and former Afghanistan teammate Asghar Afghan.
"It was a very serious infection," Ghamai recalled.
His whole body was full of the infection including tuberculosis, which also spread to his brain, Ghamai added.
Ghamai said Zadran had started to respond to the treatment and, after a few weeks, he was discharged from the hospital and the group moved to a hotel nearby.
"The doctor said we could drop in for the check-ups frequently," Ghamai was quoted as saying. "He was feeling good for about 20 days before he got the infection again. Then we admitted him to the hospital [again]."
The cricketer was discharged again after 20-odd days, before he complained of an stomach upset.
Zadran was brought to the hospital once again, where his condition worsened further.
"He started getting a fever and then he tested positive for dengue. His immunity was very weak as the red blood cell count depleted severely," Ghamai said.
Zadran underwent a bone-marrow test around Mar 26, exposing the stage four of HLH.
He now barely speaks and sleeps a lot, having lost about 14 kg, dropping from 98 kg to 84 kg since his second admission, reads the report.
The eldest of the Zadran siblings -- four brothers and six sisters, the pacer had been the head of the family for a while, Ghamai recounted.
He said the steroids Zadran has been given recently seem to be working. “And that has given us hope."
The cricket community back home had extended its support fully for the cricketer.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and batter Umar Akmal also stood in solidarity with him and his family.
His last international appearance came in 2020, and he retired on Jan 29. His best bowling performance in an ICC event was in the 2015 ODI World Cup when his 10 dismissals at an average of 26.50 included Steven Smith, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahmudullah.
