Afghanistan's former fast bowler passes away at the age of 38
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed his passing on Tuesday, saying Zadran died in New Delhi, India, just one day before he would have turned 39. He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Greater Noida after being diagnosed with stage-four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening condition that causes severe inflammation and can damage the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.
Zadran first fell ill in Afghanistan last October and was later moved to India for specialised medical care. Throughout his treatment, his younger brother Ghamai Zadran and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan stayed by his side. Fellow Afghan stars Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan also visited him in May.
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A left-arm fast bowler, Zadran represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches, 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is, between 2009 and 2020, during the country's formative years on the global cricket stage.
Having grown up as a refugee in Peshawar, Pakistan, he began his cricketing journey there alongside future teammates such as Mohammad Nabi, Asghar Afghan, and Dawlat Zadran, before going on to become one of the key bowlers driving Afghanistan's rapid rise in international cricket.
Paying tribute, the ACB said Zadran was "one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a vital role in the rise and development of the game" in the country.
The news has triggered an outpouring of tributes from fans, former teammates, and the wider cricket community, many remembering Zadran not just for his contributions with the ball but for the resilience and determination he displayed during a decade of Afghanistan's cricketing growth.
