Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is critically ill in a Delhi intensive-care unit after being diagnosed with Stage-Four Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) – a condition so uncommon that many specialists still describe it as “ultra-rare”. The 38-year-old, who will turn 39 in July, travelled to India in January when symptoms first intensified, and has been in and out of hospital ever since.
HLH in simple terms
HLH occurs when the body’s immune system goes into over-drive, attacking its own tissues. It is seen more often in children but can strike adults whose immunity has already been compromised – for example by infection or previous cancer treatment. Severe inflammation can damage bone marrow, liver, spleen and the lymphatic system. Left untreated it is usually fatal, and even with aggressive therapy the odds are not kind.
How it unfolded
Zadran felt unwell last October. Local doctors advised an urgent transfer to India, where specialist facilities were available. Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board chair Mirwais Ashraf intervened to speed up visa paperwork, and Shapoor arrived in Delhi on 18 January.
“His whole body was full of the infection including TB. It also spread to his brain, which was revealed after MRI and CT scan,” younger brother Ghamai Zadran said.
Initial treatment seemed promising. After several weeks in hospital Shapoor was strong enough to move into a nearby hotel for daily check-ups. “He was feeling good for about 20 days before he got the infection again,” Ghamai added. A second spell on the ward followed, then a brief discharge, and then further setbacks: stomach pain, high fever and a positive dengue test. On 26 March, during Ramadan, a bone-marrow biopsy confirmed advanced HLH.
Support network
Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has been at Shapoor’s bedside from day one, flying between Dubai and Delhi while juggling family and business commitments. “He has gone out of his way to help,” Ghamai acknowledged, noting the long nights Asghar has already spent in the ICU lounge.
Within Afghanistan the response has been immediate. Team-mates, board officials and even club cricketers have contributed to a fund covering medical bills that now run into tens of thousands of US dollars. Crowdfunding pages in Pashto, Dari and English have also appeared, though treatment costs continue to mount.
Why it matters
Zadran, all 6ft 2in of him with that trademark flowing hair, was a fixture in Afghanistan’s rise from Associate status to Test cricket. Between 2009 and 2020 he played 80 internationals – 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is – routinely bowling the tough Powerplay overs. His spell against Scotland at the 2015 World Cup, when a late burst turned defeat into victory, remains a favourite among Afghan fans.
HLH is unforgiving. Doctors usually respond with a cocktail of steroids, chemotherapy-type drugs and, if the patient stabilises, a stem-cell transplant. Recovery can take many months and relapse is a constant threat. Specialists in Delhi are now weighing up options; time is not abundant but, crucially, neither is hope extinguished.
What happens next
The family is braced for a long haul. Visas for additional relatives are being organised, and the cricket board has pledged to keep financial support flowing. “We are grateful for every message and every prayer,” Ghamai said. “He is a fighter, always has been.”
For now the left-arm quick who once charged in under bright lights must fight a very different battle, behind hospital curtains, yards rather than yards per second the only measure of progress. Those who watched his career know he rarely backed away from a challenge; they will be hoping that resolve serves him once more.
