Shapoor Zadran laid to rest in Kabul as Afghanistan teammates pay final tribute
Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran was laid to rest in Kabul as teammates, family members and cricket officials paid an emotional final tribute to one of the pioneers of the country's rise in international cricket.
Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran was laid to rest at Maranjan Hill in Kabul on Thursday, with thousands of mourners gathering to bid farewell to one of the architects of the country's remarkable rise in international cricket.
Current and former Afghanistan players, including Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Asghar Afghan and Samiullah Shinwari, joined Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials, family members, and dignitaries to pay their final respects.
Zadran's mortal remains arrived in Kabul on Wednesday after being flown from India following his death at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness. The coffin was received at Kabul International Airport by teammates, ACB officials, and family members before being taken to the historic Eidgah Mosque, where funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday morning.
Following the prayers, the former left-arm pacer was buried at Maranjan Hill in a ceremony attended by family, friends and members of Afghanistan's cricket fraternity, bringing an emotional farewell to one of the pioneers who helped shape the country's rise in international cricket.
A PIONEER OF AFGHANISTAN CRICKET
Zadran was one of the foundation stones of modern Afghanistan cricket. Making his international debut in 2009, the left-arm fast bowler represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches across formats between 2009 and 2020. He claimed 43 wickets in ODIs and 37 in T20Is, finishing with 80 international appearances during a period in which Afghanistan established itself as a force in world cricket.
Among his most memorable contributions came at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Zadran finished as Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 10 wickets and also struck the winning runs against Scotland, sealing the nation's first-ever victory at a men's ODI World Cup, a landmark moment in Afghan sporting history.
Following his death earlier this week, tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. The ACB described him as one of the "foundation-laying figures" of Afghanistan cricket whose passion and commitment helped shape the game's growth in the country.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah and several cricket boards also expressed condolences, remembering Zadran's contribution to Afghanistan's inspiring journey from Associate ranks to the global stage.
The ACB also postponed two days of fixtures in the ongoing 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League in memory of Shapoor Zadran. The matches scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, were called off as a mark of respect for one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket.
In a statement, the ACB said the fixtures had been postponed in tribute to the former fast bowler, adding that a revised schedule for the remainder of the T20 tournament would be announced in due course.
As Kabul bade farewell to one of its cricketing heroes, Zadran leaves behind a legacy that will remain inseparable from Afghanistan's rise in international cricket.
Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran was laid to rest at Maranjan Hill in Kabul on Thursday, with thousands of mourners gathering to bid farewell to one of the architects of the country's remarkable rise in international cricket.
Current and former Afghanistan players, including Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Asghar Afghan and Samiullah Shinwari, joined Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials, family members, and dignitaries to pay their final respects.
Zadran's mortal remains arrived in Kabul on Wednesday after being flown from India following his death at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness. The coffin was received at Kabul International Airport by teammates, ACB officials, and family members before being taken to the historic Eidgah Mosque, where funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday morning.
Following the prayers, the former left-arm pacer was buried at Maranjan Hill in a ceremony attended by family, friends and members of Afghanistan's cricket fraternity, bringing an emotional farewell to one of the pioneers who helped shape the country's rise in international cricket.
A PIONEER OF AFGHANISTAN CRICKET
Zadran was one of the foundation stones of modern Afghanistan cricket. Making his international debut in 2009, the left-arm fast bowler represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches across formats between 2009 and 2020. He claimed 43 wickets in ODIs and 37 in T20Is, finishing with 80 international appearances during a period in which Afghanistan established itself as a force in world cricket.
Among his most memorable contributions came at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Zadran finished as Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 10 wickets and also struck the winning runs against Scotland, sealing the nation's first-ever victory at a men's ODI World Cup, a landmark moment in Afghan sporting history.
Following his death earlier this week, tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. The ACB described him as one of the "foundation-laying figures" of Afghanistan cricket whose passion and commitment helped shape the game's growth in the country.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah and several cricket boards also expressed condolences, remembering Zadran's contribution to Afghanistan's inspiring journey from Associate ranks to the global stage.
The ACB also postponed two days of fixtures in the ongoing 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League in memory of Shapoor Zadran. The matches scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, were called off as a mark of respect for one of the pioneers of Afghanistan cricket.
In a statement, the ACB said the fixtures had been postponed in tribute to the former fast bowler, adding that a revised schedule for the remainder of the T20 tournament would be announced in due course.
As Kabul bade farewell to one of its cricketing heroes, Zadran leaves behind a legacy that will remain inseparable from Afghanistan's rise in international cricket.
