New Delhi, 20 April (H.S.):
Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is currently fighting a severe and rare illness and is admitted to the ICU of a hospital in Delhi.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the 39-year-old Zadran has been diagnosed with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a life-threatening disease. The condition weakens the body’s immune system, triggering severe inflammation and widespread infection. It can affect the bone marrow, liver, spleen and other organs. Although it is usually seen in children, it can also occur in adults.
Shapoor Zadran played 44 One-Day Internationals and 36 T20 Internationals for Afghanistan between 2009 and 2020. His health first deteriorated last October, after which doctors in Afghanistan advised him to seek treatment in India. He arrived in Delhi in January and was admitted to hospital. His wife and former captain Asghar Afghan were with him during this time. His younger brother, Gamai Zadran, said the initial infection was very serious and had spread throughout the body, including the brain, along with tuberculosis and other infections.
After treatment, his condition improved for a while and he was discharged from hospital, but the infection returned later. His condition worsened further after he contracted dengue, which severely weakened his immunity. A bone marrow test conducted at the end of March showed that he was in the fourth stage of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. He has since become extremely weak and has lost about 14 kilograms.
According to his brother, he is unable to speak much and spends most of his time sleeping.
He has also been receiving consistent support from the cricket world. Rashid Khan, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi and several other players have been tracking his condition and remain in contact with the family. Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi, along with several other international cricketers, has also checked on his well-being. The family remains hopeful that the recent steroid treatment will gradually improve his condition and help him recover from this difficult phase.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
