Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran fights for survival in Delhi hospital 2026

Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran, 6'2" with long hair, battles stage four HLH disease in a Delhi ICU after fighting serious infections.

Cricket career and early symptoms Shapoor Zadran, a towering 6'2" pacer with long flowing hair, was a familiar sight on the field while bowling for Afghanistan. Now, the former international player lies in an intensive care unit in Delhi battling stage four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, a rare condition that primarily affects children but can also strike adults with weakened immunity or prior cancer treatment. The disease causes severe inflammation as the immune system overreacts, damaging vital organs such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Shapoor featured in 80 international matches — 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is — for Afghanistan between 2009 and 2020. ## Journey to India for treatment Shapoor’s younger brother Ghamai Zadran revealed that the fast bowler first noticed feeling unwell last October. Doctors in Afghanistan advised immediate travel to India for advanced care. His Indian visa was expedited after Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf and star spinner Rashid Khan leveraged their connections in the country. Ashraf spoke with ICC chairman Jay Shah, while Rashid contacted influential figures in the franchise circuit, including teams he represents such as Gujarat Titans in the IPL and Mumbai Indians-affiliated sides in other leagues. Shapoor arrived in India on January 18 and was immediately hospitalized. ## Medical complications and initial recovery Shapoor was accompanied by his wife and former teammate Asghar Afghan throughout his treatment. Ghamai, who lives in Canada, flew in on January 26 to support his brother. Ghamai described the infection as extremely serious, spreading throughout Shapoor’s body including tuberculosis, and reaching his brain, confirmed through MRI and CT scans. He noted that Shapoor initially responded to treatment, was discharged after several weeks, and moved to a nearby hotel where frequent check-ups were recommended. For about 20 days, Shapoor felt well before falling ill again. ## Relapse and critical condition After being readmitted for another 20 days, Shapoor developed stomach discomfort and was hospitalized once more, with his condition deteriorating rapidly. He developed a high fever and tested positive for dengue, compounded by dangerously low red blood cell counts due to weakened immunity. By around March 26, during the holy month of Ramadan, a bone marrow test confirmed Shapoor had reached stage four HLH. Ghamai, a former Afghanistan A batter himself, shared that the domestic cricket community had rallied full support behind Shapoor during this crisis. ## Support from global cricket fraternity Ghamai praised Asghar Afghan for extraordinary support, highlighting his constant presence — traveling with Shapoor in January, spending countless hours in the hospital, and shuttling between Dubai and Delhi to monitor his condition. Rashid Khan remained actively involved, visiting Shapoor during the recent T20 World Cup, consulting with doctors in both Delhi and a top hospital in Mumbai throughout the ordeal. On April 3, Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar, who plays for Mumbai Indians, met Shapoor while in Delhi for an IPL match against Delhi Capitals and has maintained contact with Ghamai since. Afghanistan ODI captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is among players who have personally checked on Shapoor’s progress. ## Continued support and family hope ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf visited Shapoor in the hospital on Sunday to express concern. International cricketers and former stars have also reached out to Ghamai, including Shahid Afridi, while former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai is scheduled to visit Shapoor on Monday. Currently, Shapoor remains largely unresponsive, sleeping frequently and suffering from extreme fatigue. His weight has dropped from 98 kilograms upon second admission to approximately 84 kilograms, a loss of about 14 kilograms. Despite the setbacks, Ghamai expressed cautious optimism, noting that recent steroid treatment appears to be helping and offering hope for gradual improvement.