Former Afghan cricketer Shapoor Zadran in critical care, battling rare blood disorder

Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is currently in a critical condition, battling a rare and life threatening illness while undergoing treatment in a hospital in New Delhi.

The 38 year old left arm pacer has been diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an uncommon and severe disorder in which the immune system turns dangerously overactive , triggering intense inflammation that can damage vital organs including the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes . Though HLH is mostly seen in children, it can become extremely serious in adults when it occurs.

Shapoor has been admitted to the intensive care unit since January and continues to receive close medical supervision.

According to his younger brother Ghamai Zadran, the former cricketer first fell ill in October last year while in Afghanistan. His condition worsened over time, prompting doctors to advise specialized treatment in India.

Describing the severity of his condition, Ghamai said the infection had spread widely in his body. He also revealed that it included tuberculosis and complications that reached the brain , which were later confirmed through MRI and CT scans.

Shapoor initially responded positively to treatment and was discharged, but his recovery was short lived. Within about 20 days, his condition relapsed, forcing his readmission to the hospital for intensive care once again.

Despite medical efforts, his condition remains critical.

Shapoor Zadran represented Afghanistan in international cricket between 2009 and 2020 , playing 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is , and was part of the early generation of players who helped shape Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket.

His current health battle has drawn concern across the cricket community, as he continues to fight for survival under close medical observation in Delhi.