Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 38.

Zadran had been battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a severe immune system disorder that can cause dangerous inflammation and damage multiple organs.

He had reportedly been undergoing treatment in the Delhi-NCR region for the past few months.

Zadran first fell ill last October, after which doctors in Afghanistan advised him to travel to India for treatment. He initially responded well and was discharged from hospital, but suffered a relapse 20 days later.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board paid tribute to Zadran on social media: “Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honor, courage, and pride. His contributions and achievements will always remain an important part of the history of Afghanistan cricket, and his efforts in the service of the national team will never be forgotten.

“Beyond his achievements on the field, Shapoor Zadran was a true source of inspiration for many young Afghan cricketers and for cricket followers across the world. His fighting spirit, determination, and love for the game gave hope to many and encouraged a generation to dream bigger and believe in the future of Afghanistan cricket.”

– with Agencies inputs --