Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has shared his condolences for former Afghanistan seamer Shapoor Zadran, who passed away on Tuesday, July 07.
Zadran was under treatment in New Delhi for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare, life-threatening disease that affects the body's immune system. The news was confirmed by his brother, Ghamai Zadran, who had been with the former player since January, when he was hospitalised in Delhi.
"It’s always heartbreaking to lose someone who gave so much
to the game. Shapoor Zadran was a true pioneer for Afghanistan cricket and his passion and commitment will always be remembered. Sending my deepest condolences to his family and to the entire Afghanistan cricket fraternity. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏," Yuvraj wrote on a post on X (formerly Twitter).
It’s always heartbreaking to lose someone who gave so much to the game.
Shapoor Zadran was a true pioneer for Afghanistan cricket and his passion and commitment will always be remembered.
Sending my deepest condolences to his family and to the entire Afghanistan cricket… pic.twitter.com/cA6pnnavuu— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 7, 2026
Zadran was a key member of Afghanistan's growth as a cricketing nation, making his debut in 2009 and retiring in 2020. Standing at 6' 2" and bowling with good pace, the left-arm seamer played a crucial role in the development of the game in the country, mentoring young stars like Rashid Khan. He has played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan in an 11-year-long career.
Zadran was Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker in their historic 2015 World Cup appearance in Australia and New Zealand with 10 scalps. He also featured in four T20 World Cups from 2010 to 2016, picking up nine wickets in nine games.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, head coach Richard Pybus, and players Qais Ahmed and Zia Sharif visited Zadran in Delhi when the team toured India in June. Rashid and former skipper Asghar Afghan, among other players, have kept in touch with the former player.
