New Delhi, April 20 (NationPress) Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is currently fighting for his life at a New Delhi hospital after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and potentially deadly immune condition.

Zadran, who has represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, is in the intensive care unit (ICU) battling stage four HLH. This severe condition causes hyper-inflammatory responses, damaging various tissues including the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.

His younger sibling, Ghamai Zadran, living in Canada, disclosed that Shapoor first experienced health issues in October of the previous year and was recommended to seek treatment in India. With assistance from Rashid Khan and Mirwais Ashraf, chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), Shapoor's visa process was expedited, allowing him to be admitted to the New Delhi hospital on January 18.

“It was a very serious infection. His entire body was compromised, including TB (tuberculosis), which also affected his brain, as revealed by MRI and CT scans,” Ghamai stated in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.

While Ashraf discussed Shapoor's situation with ICC chairman Jay Shah, Rashid utilized his connections within the franchise circuit, including the Gujarat Titans, the IPL team he plays for. Rashid had even visited Shapoor during Afghanistan's Men's T20 World Cup match in New Delhi earlier this year.

On April 3, AM Ghazanfar, an Afghanistan wrist-spinner playing for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, paid a visit to Shapoor right before his match against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has been frequently traveling between Dubai and Delhi to support Shapoor, while Rashid and other Afghan players have maintained communication with medical staff and family members. Although Shapoor showed initial signs of recovery, his health deteriorated again due to recurrent infections, dengue, and critically low red blood cell counts.

A bone marrow examination conducted in late March confirmed Shapoor's stage four HLH diagnosis. “The doctor mentioned that we could come in for regular check-ups. He (Shapoor) felt better for about 20 days before falling ill again, which led to his readmission,” Ghamai explained.

“He started developing a fever, and then he tested positive for dengue. His immunity was significantly compromised, with severely reduced red blood cell levels. He lacks vitality, but we hold onto hope for gradual improvement. The steroids administered to Shapoor recently appear to be having a positive effect, which gives us some hope,” Ghamai concluded.