Afghanistan Cricket Board has paid tribute to former national team fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, describing his passing as an irreplaceable loss to Afghan cricket. The Board has postponed two Shpageeza Cricket League matches in his honour as tributes continue to pour in from across the country’s cricket community.
Kabul | By Sara Amiri, AIPS Member
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the passing of former Afghanistan national team fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, paying tribute to one of the pioneers of Afghan cricket whose determination and commitment helped shape the country’s rise on the international stage.
In an official statement, the ACB described Zadran’s death as a profound loss, saying he was among the founding generation of Afghan cricketers whose dedication and tireless efforts played a defining role in the development and growth of cricket in Afghanistan.
The Board said Zadran proudly represented Afghanistan during some of the most significant years in the national team’s journey, adding that his contributions would forever remain an integral part of the country’s cricketing history.
As a mark of respect, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that matches scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in the 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League have been postponed. A revised fixture schedule will be announced in due course.
Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Mirwais Ashraf also paid tribute to Zadran, describing his death as an irreparable loss to Afghan cricket. Ashraf said Zadran’s courage, dedication and invaluable contributions during the formative years of Afghanistan’s cricket journey would always be remembered. He extended his condolences to Zadran’s family, friends and the wider cricket community, praying for eternal peace for the late cricketer and patience for his loved ones.
Tributes also poured in from across Afghanistan’s cricket fraternity. Star spinner Rashid Khan, in a message shared on his official social media accounts, described Zadran as a national hero who represented Afghanistan during some of the team’s most difficult years. Rashid expressed his deep sorrow over the loss and offered prayers for his former teammate while extending condolences to his family.
Former Afghanistan captain Nawrooz Mangal also remembered Zadran in an emotional social media tribute, describing him as a companion during the national team’s toughest days. Mangal said the news of his passing was deeply painful and prayed for eternal peace for Zadran and strength for his grieving family.
The Afghanistan Sports Journalists Federation (ASJF) also expressed its condolences, describing Zadran’s death as a significant loss for Afghan cricket. In an official statement, the federation said the former left-arm fast bowler passed away in India following an illness and extended its sympathies to his family and the wider Afghan cricket community.
According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Zadran’s body is expected to arrive in Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon. Funeral arrangements, including the exact time and location of the burial, will be announced later in consultation with his family.
Beyond his achievements on the field, Zadran was widely admired as a source of inspiration for generations of young Afghan cricketers. His resilience, fighting spirit and passion for the game inspired countless aspiring players and became symbolic of Afghanistan’s remarkable cricketing journey.
Shapoor Zadran was one of Afghanistan’s pioneering left-arm fast bowlers and represented the national team from 2009 to 2020. During his international career, he played 80 matches, including 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 Twenty20 Internationals, taking 43 ODI wickets and 37 T20I wickets. He represented Afghanistan in three ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and was part of the squad that secured the country’s historic first victory at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015. Zadran also played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s success in Asian Cricket Council competitions and was among the generation of cricketers who transformed the country from an emerging cricket nation into a Full Member of the International Cricket Council. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Afghan cricketers and remains deeply woven into the history of Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket.