The global cricket world is immersed in a wave of deep sorrow after the tragic demise of the former cricketer. afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. The great fast bowler passed away in New Delhi. IndiaTuesday at the young age of 38, after months of an excruciating battle with an exceptionally rare medical condition. As the news of his death reverberated across the sporting world, heart-wrenching scenes from his funeral emerged, highlighting the tremendous impact the cricketer had on his teammates and the identity of Afghanistan cricket.
Rashid Khan and fellow Afghanistan cricketers get emotional at Shahpur Zadran’s funeral
Shapoor’s funeral witnessed emotional scenes as his former teammates gathered to bid him a tearful farewell. In widely shared videos and images of the ceremony, the current Afghanistan captain and global T20 icon Rashid Khan Seen completely broken down, clearly devastated by the loss. He was accompanied by prominent national players including the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz and top order batsman ibrahim zadran He could not control his tears while paying his last tribute.
The intense wave of grief reflected a bond that transcended the boundaries of cricket. For young superstars like Rashid and Gurbaz, Shapoor was not just a former teammate, but an elder brother and a leading pillar who helped build Afghanistan cricket from the ground up during its formative years.
Here is the video:
Rashid Khan’s tears say everything. Losing a friend and teammate like Shapoor Zadran hurts beyond words.
Rest in peace, champion. 💔😭 pic.twitter.com/CBMSqrOBIh– Fazal Afghan (@fhzadran) 8 July 2026
Also read: Yuvraj Singh remembers Afghanistan’s Shapoor Zadran with emotional tribute after his demise in Delhi
A look at Shapoor’s career and his courageous medical battle
Shapoor was a central figure in Afghanistan’s historic rise to international cricket. Representing the country in 44 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 T20 Internationals between 2009 and 2020, the left-arm fast bowler was revered for his high-octane celebrations, streaming run-ups and fierce determination. He will always be remembered in folklore for scoring the winning runs against Scotland 2015 ICC Cricket World CupAchieved Afghanistan’s first win in a World Cup tournament.
Behind his fiery personality on the field was an equally brave man off the field. In October last year, Shapoor suffered serious health complications, later diagnosed as stage four Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). HLH is a rare, life-threatening hyper-inflammatory condition where the body’s immune system severely damages vital organs, bone marrow and blood cells.
Recognizing the seriousness of his illness, Rashid and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwaiz Ashraf Actively intervened to fast-track his medical visa, securing his admission to a specialized intensive care unit (ICU) in New Delhi on January 18. During his several months of hospitalization, the former captain Asghar Afghan Constantly traveling between Dubai and New Delhi to stay at his bedside. Despite showing brief chances of recovery, Shapoor’s fragile system succumbed to repeated secondary infections, dengue, and a severe drop in his red blood cell count.
Honoring his enduring legacy, the ACB released a touching tribute:
“Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honour, courage and distinction. Apart from his achievements on the field, he was a true source of inspiration for many young Afghan cricketers. His fighting spirit, determination and love for the game gave hope to many and encouraged a generation to dream big“
As the nation mourns, Shapoor has left an indelible mark on the game, forever remembered as a warrior who bowled his heart out for Afghanistan.