Shapoor Zadran, a left-arm fast bowler who played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, has announced his retirement from the sport.
Zadran, 37, was a key figure in Afghanistan’s early cricketing success, representing his country for more than a decade. He was instrumental in Afghanistan’s first-ever victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015, scoring the winning runs in a dramatic match against Scotland in Dunedin.
Despite being a regular in the squad for years, Zadran has not played an international match since Afghanistan’s game against Ireland in 2020. He announced his decision to retire through a statement on his Facebook page.
“Today is the day I never wanted to face, but it eventually comes for every player,” Zadran wrote. “After 22 years of service, sacrifice, and love for cricket, I officially announce my retirement from international cricket. This has been one of the toughest decisions of my life because cricket has been more than just a game to me; it has been my passion, identity, and purpose.”
He added that representing Afghanistan had been a lifelong dream, and he was proud to have played a role in elevating the country’s cricketing stature on the global stage.
Zadran played 80 international matches for Afghanistan, taking 43 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 37 wickets in T20 Internationals (T20Is).
His retirement marks the end of an era for Afghan cricket, as he was among the pioneering players who helped establish Afghanistan as a competitive force in world cricket.
