Battling for life in Delhi, Afghanistan cricket hero Shapoor Zadran in urgent need of blood

NEW DELHI: Shapoor Zadran, one of the pioneers of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, is currently battling for his life in a New Delhi hospital as his family urgently appeals for blood donations.

The former left-arm pacer is suffering from Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder.

On Wednesday, is younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, shared an emotional message on Instagram requesting help for the former Afghan star.

“My brother, national hero Shapoor Zadran, is currently in a concerning health condition,” Ghamai wrote. “With your prayers, we stand by our national hero. Due to a deficiency and urgent need, he is in critical need of blood.

“If any friends are residing in New Delhi, India, and have blood group A positive (+A), please kindly do not hesitate to donate this to our national hero.”

The condition causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues, leading to severe inflammation and damage to the bone marrow, liver and spleen. According to the family, Shapoor first fell ill last October before doctors later diagnosed him with stage four HLH.

After medical advice in Kabul, the family brought Shapoor to India earlier this year for specialised treatment. He arrived in Delhi on January 18 and was immediately admitted to intensive care.

“Our doctor in Afghanistan advised us to come to India. Everyone said the treatment here is very good,” Ghamai had earlier told TimesofIndia.com.

The Afghanistan cricket fraternity has since rallied around the former pacer. Cricketers including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan have remained in close touch with the family.

Despite the serious condition, Ghamai said his brother continues to show the same fighting spirit he displayed on the field.

“He’s fighting very hard, just like he did in cricket. He never complains about pain or difficulty,” he had added.