Former Afghanistan Fast Bowler Shapoor Zadran in Critical Condition in Delhi Hospital
Former Afghanistan cricket star Shapoor Zadran is currently in a critical condition and receiving intensive care at a hospital in New Delhi. The 36-year-old fast bowler has been diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune system disorder that causes severe hyper-inflammation throughout the body.
Stage Four HLH Diagnosis and Medical Details
Zadran, who represented Afghanistan in 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 Twenty20 Internationals between 2009 and 2020, is reportedly suffering from stage four HLH. This advanced stage of the disorder can cause significant damage to vital organs including the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.
According to his younger brother Ghamai Zadran, the cricketer first began experiencing health problems in October of last year. Medical professionals advised him to seek specialized treatment in India, leading to his admission to a New Delhi hospital on January 18.
"It was a very serious infection," Ghamai told ESPNcricinfo. "His whole body was affected, including tuberculosis, which even spread to his brain. This was revealed through MRI and CT scans."
Cricket Community Support and Medical Journey
The Afghanistan cricket community has rallied around Zadran during this challenging period. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf reportedly raised the matter with ICC chairman Jay Shah to facilitate treatment arrangements. Meanwhile, star spinner Rashid Khan utilized his Indian Premier League connections, including the Gujarat Titans franchise, to help expedite Zadran's visa process.
Rashid Khan personally visited Zadran during Afghanistan's Men's T20 World Cup fixture in New Delhi earlier this year. More recently, Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar, currently part of the Mumbai Indians squad in IPL 2026, visited him on April 3 ahead of his match against Delhi Capitals.
Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has also been actively supporting Zadran's family, traveling between Dubai and Delhi to assist during the treatment process.
Condition Fluctuations and Current Status
Despite showing initial signs of improvement, Zadran's condition deteriorated due to recurring infections including dengue fever, along with a sharp decline in his red blood cell count that severely weakened his immune system.
A bone marrow test conducted in late March confirmed the stage four HLH diagnosis. "He was feeling better for about 20 days, but then the infection returned," Ghamai explained. "He developed a fever and later tested positive for dengue. His immunity is extremely weak, and his red blood cell count has dropped significantly."
However, there remains cautious optimism among family members and supporters. "We are hopeful he will improve gradually," Ghamai added. "The steroids he has been given recently seem to be working, and that has given us some hope."
The medical team continues to monitor Zadran's condition closely as he receives specialized treatment for this rare immune disorder in the New Delhi hospital's intensive care unit.
