Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37. The tall left-arm pacer played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is since making his debut in 2009, taking 80 wickets across both formats. His last international appearance came in 2020 before he officially called time on his career.
Known for his aggressive approach, Shapoor often displayed a fierce fast bowler’s mentality, citing Shoaib Akhtar as his idol. He played a key role in Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket and became a cult hero during the 2015 ODI World Cup. His 10 wickets in that tournament, taken at an average of 26.50, included key dismissals of Steven Smith, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Mahmudullah.
However, his most memorable moment came in Dunedin against Scotland, where he helped Afghanistan secure their first-ever win at a major tournament. He took 4 for 38 to restrict Scotland to 210 before playing a crucial role with the bat. Coming in at No. 11, he was part of an unbeaten last-wicket stand of 19 and hit the winning boundary to seal a dramatic one-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
In a heartfelt statement on Facebook, Shapoor called his retirement “one of the toughest decisions” of his life. He reflected on his journey, which began during Afghanistan cricket’s most challenging times, and expressed gratitude to fans, teammates, coaches, and family for their unwavering support.
“The love, prayers, and support of my family, friends, and the people of Afghanistan have been my greatest strength,” he said. “I will always be grateful for it.”
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