Ex-Afghan cricketer Shapoor Zadran 'critical', battling rare life-threatening illness

Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is currently in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in New Delhi after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. Zadran, who represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, is reportedly suffering from stage four HLH, a condition that causes severe hyper-inflammation and can damage vital organs such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.

According to his younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, Shapoor first began experiencing health issues in October last year and was advised to seek treatment in India. With assistance from Afghanistan star Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf, his visa process was expedited, allowing him to be admitted to a New Delhi hospital on January 18.

“It was a very serious infection. His whole body was affected, including TB (tuberculosis), which even spread to his brain. This was revealed through MRI and CT scans,” Ghamai told ESPNcricinfo.

Support from Cricket Fraternity

The Afghanistan cricket community has rallied around Zadran during this difficult time. ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf reportedly raised the matter with ICC chairman Jay Shah, while Rashid Khan reached out through his IPL connections, including the Gujarat Titans franchise. Rashid also visited Zadran during Afghanistan’s Men’s T20 World Cup fixture in New Delhi earlier this year. More recently, Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar, currently part of the Mumbai Indians squad in IPL 2026, visited him on April 3, ahead of his match against Delhi Capitals.

Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has also been actively supporting Zadran’s family, travelling between Dubai and Delhi to assist during his treatment.

Condition Remains Critical

Despite showing signs of improvement initially, Zadran’s condition deteriorated due to recurring infections, including dengue, along with a sharp drop in red blood cell count, which severely weakened his immunity.

A bone marrow test conducted in late March confirmed stage four HLH.

“He was feeling better for about 20 days, but then the infection returned. He developed a fever and later tested positive for dengue. His immunity is extremely weak, and his red blood cell count has dropped significantly,” Ghamai said.