Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran fights for survival in Delhi hospital

Former Afghanistan left-arm speedster, Shapoor Zadran, is battling for survival against a life-threatening disease named Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in New Delhi. HLH is a severe hyperinflammatory condition in which immune cells, such as T-cells and macrophages, become excessively activated and begin attacking the body’s own healthy tissues, often leading to life-threatening multi-organ failure.

Shapoor was a genuine swing bowler in his heyday and played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan. He claimed 43 and 37 wickets in the 50-over and the 20-over format for the country, respectively.

Shapoor first complained of abnormalities in October last year and was advised by doctors in Afghanistan to move to India for treatment.

Rashid Khan and the chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) helped Shapoor get his Indian visa fast-tracked, and he reached India on January 18 to seek treatment.

Shapoor's younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, spoke with ESPNcricinfo and elaborated on the details of the ailment and the ongoing treatment in New Delhi.

"It was a very serious infection," Ghamai said. "His whole body was full of the infection, including TB (tuberculosis). It also spread to his brain, which was revealed after MRI and CT scan."

"The doctor said we could drop in for the check-ups frequently," Ghamai added. "He [Shapoor] was feeling good for about 20 days before he got the infection again. Then we admitted him to the hospital [again]."

"He started getting a fever and then he tested positive for dengue. His immunity was very weak as the red blood cell count depleted severely."

A bone marrow test done during the holy month of Ramadan revealed Shapoor was in Stage Four of HLH.

Ghamai is hopeful that the steroids being given to Shapoor as part of the treatment will soon lead to positive results.

"We have hope that he will improve day by day," Ghamai said. "The steroids Shapoor has been given recently seem to be working and that has given us hope."