Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran passed away on Tuesday at the age of 38 after a prolonged battle with illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on X.

“Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-lying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a vital role in the rise and development of the game in our country,” ACB wrote on X.

“He was among the proud cricketers who stood at the heart of Afghanistan's early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage,” it further read.

Zadran was hospitalised in India for the past few months, battling Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an immune system disorder.

Zadran played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan, claiming 80 wickets across formats. He had also hit the winning runs against Scotland in the 2016 World Cup – Afghanistan’s maiden win in the 50-over cricket World Cup.

He was a leading figure in Afghanistan cricket’s nascent stage. He had also competed in the 2012-13 season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the Khulna franchise.

“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,” the ACB statement said.