Afghan cricketer Shapoor Zadran passes away

Shapoor Zadran, the former Afghan pace bowler, has passed away. He was 38. The cricketer died today at a hospital in Delhi after battling a rare disease, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

His younger brother Ghamai Zadran confirmed the news of Shapoor's death. He had been taken to Delhi in January this year for advanced treatment.

The pacer, who played a significant role in the rise of Afghan cricket, made his international debut in 2009. He represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is, claiming 80 international wickets.

Shapoor's career highlight came during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where he took 10 wickets, the highest by any Afghan bowler. He also played in four T20 World Cups between 2010 and 2016. The pacer, who played five matches against Bangladesh across both formats, also featured in the Bangladesh Premier League.

In a statement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said, "Beyond his on-field success, Shapoor Zadran was a true inspiration for many young Afghan cricketers and fans worldwide. His fighting spirit, determination and love for cricket gave hope to many. He encouraged an entire generation to dream bigger and believe in the future of Afghan cricket."