Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, a widely recognised name from the early days of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, is currently fighting for his life in a hospital in New Delhi. His family has made an urgent request for A-positive blood donors, saying he requires immediate support due to a critical shortage.
Shapoor has been receiving treatment in India since January after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare but extremely dangerous immune disorder. His younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, shared the latest update in an emotional appeal posted on Instagram, describing Shapoor’s condition as serious.
In the message, Ghamai wrote that his brother—describing him as a national hero—was in a concerning state of health. He urged people in Delhi to come forward and help, stressing that prayers and prompt medical assistance were needed right away.
“With your prayers, we stand by our national hero,” Ghamai said, adding that because of an urgent deficiency, Shapoor is in critical need of blood. The family specifically asked residents in New Delhi to donate blood of the A-positive type.
Ghamai appealed directly to those who could help, saying that if anyone in New Delhi with blood group A positive (+A) was able to donate, they should not hesitate to do so for Shapoor.
The request comes months after Shapoor was brought to India for specialised care following medical advice from Afghanistan. The family said the left-arm pacer first fell ill in October last year, and doctors later identified his condition as stage-four HLH.
HLH occurs when the immune system becomes dangerously overactive, attacking healthy organs and tissues. It can trigger severe inflammation and cause damage to critical body parts such as the bone marrow, liver and spleen. Shapoor was transferred to Delhi on January 18 and was immediately admitted to intensive care.
Ghamai previously said that a doctor in Afghanistan had recommended treatment in India, with everyone around them believing the care there would be better. He added that the decision was guided by that advice and the need for the right medical expertise.
Throughout the difficult stretch, members of the Afghanistan cricket community have remained in close contact with the family. Senior figures, including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan, have been checking in as Shapoor continues his treatment in Delhi.
For Afghanistan cricket, Shapoor’s significance goes beyond his status as a former player. He represents a generation that helped the nation establish its first strong identity on the global stage. Before Afghanistan became a consistent force driven by names such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and others, Shapoor was among the players who carried the emotional momentum of the team as it moved from associate cricket into the wider international spotlight.
A tall left-arm pacer known for a distinctive run-up and a commanding presence, Shapoor represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is from 2009 to 2020. One of the most memorable chapters of his career came in the 2015 ODI World Cup, when Afghanistan stunned Scotland by one wicket in Dunedin to secure their first-ever World Cup win.
Shapoor was at the crease as Afghanistan completed that historic chase, and the image of him celebrating after the winning runs has since become one of the enduring pictures from Afghanistan’s early cricket journey.
Now, with the family’s latest appeal, the focus has shifted from Shapoor’s cricketing achievements to an urgent medical need in Delhi. Ghamai said his brother has continued to show the same determination that defined him on the field.
He noted that Shapoor is fighting hard and, much like he did in cricket, he has not been complaining about pain or difficulty.
