There are some players who have contributed more than just what stats say. Shapoor Zadran was one of them. On Wednesday, Afghanistan cricket gathered in grief to bid farewell to one of the men who helped build the country’s cricketing dream from the ground up. Emotional scenes unfolded during Zadran’s funeral as several current and former Afghanistan players struggled to hold back tears while paying their final respects to the former fast bowler.
Star spinner Rashid Khan, wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, opener Ibrahim Zadran and several members of the Afghanistan cricket fraternity were visibly emotional as Zadran was laid to rest at Maranjan Hill Cemetery in Kabul. Videos circulating on social media showed players embracing one another while mourning the loss of their favourite cricketer.
Watch: Rashid Khan in tears after Zadran’s death
Zadran passed away in India on July 7 after a lengthy battle with stage four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. He was just 38 and died a day before his 39th birthday.
The former left-arm pacer had been undergoing treatment in New Delhi since January after his condition worsened. According to reports, his health issues began late last year before doctors advised advanced treatment in India. Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf reportedly played key roles in helping fast-track his medical arrangements. Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan frequently travelled between Dubai and New Delhi to remain by his side during the difficult months.
Long before Afghanistan became a regular fixture in ICC tournaments, Zadran was one of the faces carrying the country’s ambitions.
Standing over six feet tall and famlus because of his flowing hair and aggressive left-arm pace, he became a cult figure during Afghanistan’s rise through international cricket. Between 2009 and 2020, he represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches, claiming 43 ODI wickets and 37 T20I wickets.
His finest moment arrived during the 2015 ODI World Cup. Zadran finished as Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets and famously struck the winning runs against Scotland, securing the nation’s first-ever World Cup victory.
