Late Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran's funeral held in Kabul
Kabul, July 9
The funeral of former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran was held on Thursday, with members of the Afghanistan cricket fraternity paying their final respects to one of the key members of the Afghan side during their years as an associate ICC member.
Zadran had been battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare immune system disorder, and had been undergoing treatment in the Delhi-NCR region for the past several months and passed away on Tuesday at the age of 38.
The official X handle of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) posted, "Funeral Ceremony of the Late Shapoor Zadran The mortal remains of the late Shapoor Zadran were brought to Kabul yesterday, and following the funeral prayer held at 10:00 AM this morning, he was laid to rest at Maranjan Hill Cemetery in Kabul. This video captures moments from the funeral ceremony, including heartfelt condolence messages and tributes from former Afghanistan national team players, respected guests, elders, and members of the cricket fraternity who gathered to pay their final respects."
The ACB hailed Zadran as one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket, saying his dedication and commitment were instrumental in the sport's growth and the country's rise on the international stage.
"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 who stood at the heart of Afghanistan's early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage," the ACB said.
"Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honour, 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," the ACB added.
Zadran represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches, including 44 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 T20 Internationals, between 2009 and 2020, securing a total of 80 international wickets. He hit the winning runs in Afghanistan's first-ever Cricket World Cup win against Scotland back in the 2015 edition.
— ANI
Reader Comments
That 2015 World Cup win against Scotland was historic! I remember watching it live - he hit the winning runs and the whole Afghan team was in tears. Such a beautiful moment for cricket. He'll be missed. 😢
So sad to hear about Shapoor Zadran. I followed Afghanistan's journey from associate to full member status, and he was instrumental. The fact that he was treated in Delhi shows the strong ties between Indian and Afghan cricket communities. Rest in peace, champion.
Shapoor was a true fighter - both on and off the field. 80 international wickets is no joke for a pacer from a nation that was just developing its cricket infrastructure. I hope the Afghanistan Cricket Board supports his family. We in India stand with our Afghan brothers in this time of grief. 🇮🇳🤝🇦🇫
This is heartbreaking. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis is really rare and aggressive. I'm glad the ACB acknowledged his role in building Afghan cricket from scratch. He deserved better healthcare access, but at least he got some treatment in India. Thoughts and prayers for his family. 🙏
Only 38 years old, man! That's way too young. Shapoor Zadran was part of that golden generation that put Afghanistan on the cricket map. I still remember his celebration after taking wickets in the 2015 World Cup. May his legacy inspire many more Afghan cricketers. 🏏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.