Shapoor Zadran’s body returns to Kabul as family, teammates and officials pay tribute

The body of former Afghanistan national cricket team fast bowler Shapoor Zadran arrived in Kabul on Wednesday aboard a Kam Air flight from India, where he had been receiving treatment before his death.

A large crowd gathered at Kabul International Airport to receive his remains, including family members, relatives, friends, government officials and members of Afghanistan’s cricket community.

Among those paying their respects at the airport were several current and former national team players, including Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran.

The arrival was marked by scenes of stoicness as mourners escorted the coffin to a waiting vehicle.

Zadran passed away on Tuesday at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness at a hospital in New Delhi.

One of the architects of Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket, Zadran represented the national team in 80 international matches between 2009 and 2020. The left-arm fast bowler played a key role in Afghanistan’s historic first victory at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup against Scotland, striking the winning runs in a memorable triumph.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s cricketing pioneers, Zadran helped lay the foundation for Afghanistan’s emergence on the world stage and inspired a generation of young cricketers.

Tributes have continued to pour in from teammates, former players, cricket officials and fans, who have remembered him for his passion, commitment and lasting contribution to the development of cricket in Afghanistan.