India, July 7 -- Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, one of the pioneers of the country's rise in international cricket, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 38 after battling a prolonged illness. He died just a day before his 39th birthday while undergoing treatment in the Delhi-NCR region for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune system disorder.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the news and paid tribute to the left-arm pacer, describing him as one of the "foundation-laying figures" of Afghanistan cricket whose dedication and passion played a crucial role in taking the national team onto the global stage.

Zadran represented Afghanistan in 80 international matches between 2...