Shapoor Zadran was an Afghan international cricketer whose aggressive left-arm fast-medium bowling helped Afghanistan establish itself on the world cricket stage. Born in Logar Province, he became one of the national team’s important pace bowlers during its rise through international cricket. Zadran is especially remembered for the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where he took 10 wickets and struck the winning runs against Scotland in Afghanistan’s historic first World Cup victory. He represented Afghanistan in one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals, played in three T20 World Cup campaigns, and remained associated with the country’s early international achievements. After retiring from international cricket in January 2025, Zadran died in July 2026, aged 38.
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Shapoor Zadran Career Stats
| Format | Career | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 50s | 100s | Wickets | BBI | Bowl Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIReconciled source snapshot | 2009–2019 | 44 | 27 | 67 | 17 | 6.70 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4/24 | 36.95 |
| T20IRecorded matches only | 2010–2020 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 13 | 6.25 | 0 | 0 | 24 | — | 23.63 |
This compact table is rendered directly from the shared per-format source selection; recorded-only rows are explicitly labelled. Detailed opponent, venue, year and dismissal analysis remains on the full stats page.
Shapoor Zadran
/cricket-player/shapoor-zadran/Each format uses one source consistently. Recorded-only figures are labelled separately.
Reconciled source snapshot
Recorded matches only
Shapoor Zadran Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shapoor Zadran |
| Date of birth | 8 July 1987 |
| Birthplace | Logar Province, Afghanistan |
| Nationality | Afghan |
| Profession | International cricketer |
| Playing role | Fast bowler |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Bowling style | Left-arm fast-medium |
| ODI debut | 19 April 2009, against Scotland |
| T20I debut | 1 February 2010, against Ireland |
| International teams | Afghanistan |
| Major achievement | Afghanistan’s first men’s Cricket World Cup victory, in 2015 |
| 2015 World Cup wickets | 10 |
| International retirement | January 2025 |
| Date of death | 7 July 2026 |
| Age at death | 38 |
| Best-known performance | 4 wickets for 38 runs against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup |
The biographical dates and principal career milestones are supported by cricket records and the ICC’s reports.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Early Life, Childhood and Move to Pakistan
Shapoor Zadran was born in Logar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 July 1987. His early life was shaped by the conflict that forced many Afghans to leave their homes. Cricket.com.au’s player profile records that Zadran began his cricketing development in Peshawar, Pakistan, after leaving Afghanistan during the war.
His experience of growing up across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border was part of the wider story of Afghan cricket, which developed through refugee communities and informal cricket networks before the country became an established international side. Zadran’s eventual return to Afghan cricket connected his personal development with the national team’s progress.
How Shapoor Zadran Started Playing Cricket
According to Cricket.com.au, Zadran initially hoped to represent Pakistan. His career direction changed after former Pakistan bowler Iqbal Sikander, who was involved in coaching Afghanistan, encouraged him to attend trials for the Afghan team. That opportunity helped place Zadran on the pathway to international cricket.
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His early story illustrates an important feature of Afghanistan’s cricket development: players who had experienced displacement and learned the game outside their birthplace became part of the national programme that eventually competed at major ICC tournaments.
Shapoor Zadran’s Family and Personal Life
Shapoor Zadran’s family background has received less detailed coverage in international cricket biographies than his playing career. One family connection was publicly reported during his final illness: his brother, Ghamai Zadran, accompanied him during treatment in India, alongside former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan.
Pajhwok Afghan News
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Verified family information
- Brother: Ghamai Zadran, identified in reporting about Shapoor’s medical treatment.
- Family support during illness: His brother and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan accompanied him during treatment in India.
Reliable evidence for his parents’ names and occupations, other siblings, spouse, children, and detailed household background has not been established in the sources cited here. Those details should not be guessed or filled with unsupported claims.
Shapoor Zadran’s Education, Height and Cricket Development
Zadran’s documented cricket development includes his early playing years in Peshawar and his subsequent selection for Afghanistan. Publicly available profiles identify him as a left-handed batter and left-arm fast-medium bowler.
Some secondary cricket profiles describe him as approximately six feet tall, while other biographical listings give a more precise height. Without a clearly established primary-source measurement, a precise figure should be treated cautiously.
A complete, independently verified school and university chronology, formal qualifications, and a comprehensive list of his early coaches have not been established by the sources cited here. Iqbal Sikander’s role in encouraging Zadran to trial for Afghanistan is one documented coaching connection.
Shapoor Zadran’s Domestic and International Cricket Career
Zadran’s career progressed from Afghanistan’s emerging cricket structure to the senior national side. His international debut came in 2009, and his left-arm pace became a familiar feature of Afghanistan’s bowling attack during its transition from Associate cricket to competition against established international teams. He continued representing Afghanistan into 2020, although his final international appearance came before his formal retirement.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Career Timeline
| Year / period | Career milestone |
|---|---|
| Early career | Developed his cricket in Peshawar, Pakistan |
| 2007–08 | Listed with Badureliya Sports Club in Sri Lankan domestic records |
| 2009 | Made his ODI debut against the Netherlands |
| 2010 | Made his T20I debut against Ireland and played at the T20 World Cup |
| 2012 | Represented Afghanistan at another ICC World Twenty20 |
| 2013 | Joined the Khulna Royal Bengals in the Bangladesh Premier League |
| 2014–15 | Prepared for and competed in the 2015 World Cup |
| 26 February 2015 | Took 4/38 against Scotland and helped Afghanistan secure its first World Cup win |
| 2016 | Played at the ICC World Twenty20 in India |
| 2017–18 | Appeared in domestic and franchise cricket, including for Boost Defenders |
| 2018 | Afghanistan became an ICC Full Member; Zadran was part of the team’s wider international era |
| 2019 | Played his final ODI, against Ireland |
| 8 March 2020 | Played his final T20I, against Ireland |
| January 2025 | Announced his international retirement |
| 7 July 2026 | Died aged 38 after a prolonged illness |
The timeline combines career records with the ICC’s retirement and obituary reports. Dates for domestic appearances should be distinguished from dates of team association.
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Shapoor Zadran’s ODI Career: Debut, Wickets and Best Bowling
Zadran made his one-day international debut against the Netherlands on 30 August 2009. He made an immediate impression by taking four wickets for 24 runs from 10 overs, including two maidens. Although Afghanistan lost the match by eight runs, the performance established Zadran as a bowler capable of making an impact at senior international level.
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ODI Career Statistics
| ODI statistic | Career figure |
|---|---|
| Matches | 44 |
| Wickets | 43 |
| Best bowling | 4/24 |
| Bowling average | 36.95 |
| Economy rate | 4.81 |
| Bowling strike rate | 46.12 |
| Runs scored | 67 |
| Highest score | 17 |
Career figures are based on the Cricket.com.au and cricket-record profiles.
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For readers wanting the format-level figures and deeper match details, the ODI statistics can be explored through the site’s player-statistics system.
See Shapoor Zadran's complete ODI statsWhat Made His ODI Bowling Important?
Zadran’s best-known ODI performances combined pace, aggression and the ability to take wickets in clusters. His debut figures against the Netherlands and his later World Cup performance against Scotland were separated by several years, but both showed his capacity to disrupt an opposition batting order.
He finished his international career with 43 ODI wickets, according to the ICC’s 2026 obituary. His 2015 World Cup campaign was his defining tournament in the format, and it remains the clearest measure of his contribution to Afghanistan’s early World Cup history.
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Shapoor Zadran’s T20I Career and T20 World Cup Appearances
Zadran made his T20 international debut against Ireland on 1 February 2010. He went on to represent Afghanistan in three T20 World Cup campaigns, participating in the 2010, 2012 and 2016 editions. His career in the shortest international format overlapped with Afghanistan’s gradual rise from a developing side to a more established international opponent.
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T20I Career Statistics
| T20I statistic | Career figure |
|---|---|
| Matches | 36 |
| Wickets | 37 |
| Best bowling | 3/40 |
| Bowling average | 24.51 |
| Economy rate | 7.83 |
| Runs scored | 27 |
| Highest score | 13 |
Career figures are reported by Cricket.com.au.
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View Shapoor Zadran's full T20I recordShapoor Zadran at the 2010 T20 World Cup
Afghanistan faced India at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 1 May 2010. India won by seven wickets after chasing Afghanistan’s total of 115. Zadran remained not out on zero in Afghanistan’s innings. The match was part of his early exposure to elite international opposition, as Afghanistan competed in its first T20 World Cup.
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His T20I career later extended to March 2020, when Afghanistan played Ireland in Greater Noida, India. That match became his final appearance in international cricket.
Shapoor Zadran’s 2015 Cricket World Cup Performance
The 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup was the defining tournament of Zadran’s career. He finished with 10 wickets, making him Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in the competition. His contribution was particularly important because Afghanistan were still building experience against the world’s leading cricket teams.
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Afghanistan vs Scotland: The Historic Match
On 26 February 2015, Afghanistan played Scotland at University Oval in Dunedin, New Zealand. Scotland were dismissed for 210 in 50 overs, with Zadran taking four wickets for 38 runs. Afghanistan eventually reached 211 for nine in 49.3 overs to win by one wicket, securing the first World Cup victory in the country’s history.
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Scotland vs Afghanistan: Match Snapshot
Scotland
210
All out, 50 overs
Afghanistan
211/9
49.3 overs
Zadran’s bowling
4/38
10 overs, one maiden
Result
Afghanistan won
By one wicket, with three balls remaining
Source: ESPNcricinfo match report and scorecard.
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How Zadran Helped Restrict Scotland
Scotland’s innings included a 53-run partnership between Matt Machan and captain Preston Mommsen, followed by further resistance from Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross. Zadran broke through in the lower order, dismissing Cross, Josh Davey, Majid Haq and Alasdair Evans. His figures of 4/38 were the best bowling figures in the match. Dawlat Zadran supported him with three wickets for 29 runs.
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The bowling performance gave Afghanistan a target of 211, but the chase became a major test of nerve. Afghanistan fell to 97 for seven before Samiullah Shenwari’s 96 and Javed Ahmadi’s 51 kept the side in contention.
Shapoor Zadran Hits the Winning Boundary
After Shenwari was dismissed with 19 runs still required, Zadran joined Hamid Hassan at the crease. The last-wicket pair completed the chase, with Zadran hitting the winning four off Iain Wardlaw in the final over.
Final match details
- Competition: 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
- Date: 26 February 2015
- Venue: University Oval, Dunedin
- Opposition: Scotland
- Zadran’s bowling: 4/38
- Afghanistan’s target: 211
- Result: Afghanistan won by one wicket
- Historical significance: Afghanistan’s first men’s Cricket World Cup victory
Samiullah Shenwari was named Player of the Match for his 96, but Zadran’s bowling and winning boundary made him one of the central figures in the result. The victory became one of the defining moments in Afghanistan’s emergence as a competitive international cricket team.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Franchise and Domestic Cricket Career
Zadran’s career extended beyond Afghanistan’s national side. CricketArchive lists him with several domestic and franchise teams, including Badureliya Sports Club, Khulna Royal Bengals, Boost Defenders, Kabul Region, Amo Sharks, Mis Ainak Knights and Pamir Zalmi. The records span one-day, first-class and T20 cricket.
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Teams and Competitions
| Team | Competition / context |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Senior international cricket |
| Badureliya Sports Club | Sri Lankan domestic cricket |
| Khulna Royal Bengals | Bangladesh Premier League |
| Boost Defenders | Afghanistan domestic T20 cricket |
| Kabul Region | First-class cricket |
| Amo Sharks | Afghanistan domestic T20 cricket |
| Mis Ainak Knights | Afghanistan domestic T20 cricket |
| Pamir Zalmi | Domestic/franchise T20 cricket |
The available records establish team associations, but not every association should be interpreted as proof of a long stint or a particular number of appearances. A reliable, complete season-by-season franchise statistics table requires further scorecard-level reconciliation.
Bangladesh Premier League
In 2013, Zadran was recruited by the Khulna Royal Bengals for the Bangladesh Premier League. The opportunity reflected the appeal of his left-arm pace and international experience in the T20 franchise market.
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There is no sufficiently verified public evidence in the sources reviewed here to state an exact contract amount or to give a complete, reconciled season-by-season franchise earnings total. Such figures should not be estimated from generic salary websites.
Shapoor Zadran’s Records and Career Milestones
Zadran’s career was defined more by his contribution to Afghanistan’s development and by a handful of high-impact bowling performances than by individual world-record totals.
| Record or milestone | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| ODI debut | 30 August 2009, against the Netherlands |
| ODI debut bowling | 4/24 |
| T20I debut | 1 February 2010, against Ireland |
| Best ODI bowling | 4/24 |
| 2015 World Cup wickets | 10 |
| Best bowling at the 2015 World Cup | 4/38 against Scotland |
| Historic World Cup moment | Hit the winning four against Scotland |
| International career | 2009–2020 |
| International retirement | Announced in January 2025 |
Sources: Cricket.com.au, CricketArchive, ICC and match scorecards.
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The Significance of His World Cup Contribution
Zadran’s 10 wickets in the 2015 World Cup placed him at the top of Afghanistan’s wicket-taking list for that tournament. His 4/38 against Scotland was his most celebrated performance, but the wider achievement was his contribution across a major international event in which Afghanistan earned its first World Cup victory.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Playing Style
Zadran was a left-arm fast-medium bowler known for an aggressive approach and a strong physical presence at the crease. Contemporary cricket profiles described his run-up as imposing and his bowling as capable of hitting the pitch hard. His ability to generate pressure was especially valuable when Afghanistan faced opponents with more experience at international level.
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His bowling record shows a career that served two distinct purposes:
- In ODIs: He could bowl substantial spells, as shown by his 10-over performances against the Netherlands in 2009 and Scotland in 2015.
- In T20Is: He played a role in Afghanistan’s early campaigns in the format and took 37 wickets across 36 matches, according to Cricket.com.au.
- As a lower-order batter: His most memorable contribution with the bat was the winning boundary against Scotland in 2015, rather than high run totals across his career.
His best-known cricketing identity remained that of an attacking left-arm seamer who could influence a match with a short burst of wickets.
Shapoor Zadran’s Injuries, Illness and Final Years
Zadran’s later years were affected by serious illness. Reporting by Pajhwok Afghan News and The Indian Express said that he fell ill in Afghanistan in October 2025 and was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi in January 2026 for treatment of a rare immune-system disorder. His brother Ghamai Zadran and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan accompanied him during treatment.
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The Indian Express identified the illness as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a serious hyperinflammatory disorder. The ICC’s obituary described his death as following a prolonged illness.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Death
Shapoor Zadran died on 7 July 2026, aged 38, one day before his 39th birthday. The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced his death and described him as one of the foundational figures in the country’s cricket development. Reuters also reported his death and highlighted his contribution to Afghanistan’s first World Cup victory.
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His passing prompted tributes to his role in Afghanistan’s early international years. The significance of his career lay not only in his wicket tally, but also in the part he played during the period when Afghan cricket was establishing itself against full-member nations.
Shapoor Zadran’s Retirement and Contribution to Afghanistan Cricket
Zadran announced his retirement from international cricket in January 2025. By then, he had not played for Afghanistan since 2020. His career spanned more than a decade and included three T20 World Cup campaigns and the 2015 ODI World Cup.
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The ICC described him as one of the players who helped shape Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket. His career came during a period when Afghanistan’s national team progressed from the lower divisions of the World Cricket League to the top level of international competition. He was part of that transition, and his most celebrated performance became inseparable from the country’s first World Cup win.
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Shapoor Zadran’s Career Statistics Summary
The following table summarizes his senior international record. Career statistics can differ between providers when data is updated or match classifications are reconciled; the figures below follow the cited current player profiles and ICC reporting.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 44 | 43 | 4/24 |
| T20I | 36 | 37 | 3/40 |
| International total | 80 | 80 | — |
Sources: ICC and Cricket.com.au.
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For readers looking for a broader statistical breakdown, the site’s general cricket statistics tool provides a natural next step.
Explore the complete cricket player statistics databaseCompare Shapoor Zadran With Other Cricketers
Zadran’s career can be compared with other Afghan fast bowlers to put his international contribution into context, particularly in terms of ODI wickets, T20I performance, and impact during Afghanistan’s formative World Cup campaigns.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shapoor Zadran
Who was Shapoor Zadran?
Shapoor Zadran was an Afghanistan international left-arm fast-medium bowler who played ODI and T20I cricket between 2009 and 2020. He was particularly remembered for his role in Afghanistan’s first World Cup victory, against Scotland in 2015.
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What was Shapoor Zadran’s age when he died?
He was 38 years old when he died on 7 July 2026. He was born on 8 July 1987, one day before his 39th birthday.
Cricket Archive
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What was Shapoor Zadran’s best ODI bowling performance?
His best ODI bowling figures were four wickets for 24 runs against the Netherlands on 30 August 2009, his ODI debut.
Cricket Australia
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How many wickets did Shapoor Zadran take in the 2015 World Cup?
He took 10 wickets in the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, finishing as Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
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Why is Shapoor Zadran famous in Afghanistan cricket?
He is best remembered for taking 4/38 against Scotland and hitting the winning boundary in Afghanistan’s one-wicket victory at the 2015 World Cup. That was Afghanistan’s first victory in a men’s Cricket World Cup.
BBC Sport
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What was Shapoor Zadran’s last international match?
His last ODI was against Ireland on 10 March 2019, and his last T20I was against Ireland on 8 March 2020. He retired from international cricket in January 2025.
ICC
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Did Shapoor Zadran play in the IPL?
The team records reviewed for this biography list him with Afghanistan, Badureliya Sports Club, Khulna Royal Bengals and several Afghan domestic teams. They do not establish an IPL playing appearance, so he should not be described as an IPL player without a reliable record confirming one.
Cricket Archive
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What was Shapoor Zadran’s net worth?
No dependable public estimate of his net worth could be verified from the sources reviewed. His international statistics and reported franchise associations do not provide enough information to calculate his personal wealth reliably.
What illness did Shapoor Zadran suffer from?
Reports from The Indian Express identified his illness as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and serious immune-system disorder. The ICC reported that he died following a prolonged illness.
The Indian Express
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Who was Shapoor Zadran’s brother?
Pajhwok Afghan News identified his brother as Ghamai Zadran, who accompanied him during medical treatment in India.
Pajhwok Afghan News
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Conclusion
Shapoor Zadran will be remembered as one of Afghanistan’s memorable left-arm fast bowlers and a key figure in the country’s early rise in international cricket. His four-wicket performance against Scotland in the 2015 Cricket World Cup and the winning boundary he struck remain defining moments of his career. After representing Afghanistan in ODI and T20I cricket and announcing his international retirement in January 2025, he passed away in July 2026 at the age of 38. His contributions to Afghanistan cricket, particularly during its historic World Cup journey, remain an important part of the nation’s sporting legacy.