Afghanistan's cult hero Shapoor Zadran announces retirement from international cricket

Afghanistan’s left-arm seamer Shapoor Zadran, 37, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The tall and well-built paceman featured in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is and claimed 80 wickets across two formats.

Zadran, who last played for Afghanistan in March 2020, caught everyone’s attention during the 2015 World Cup, where he picked up 10 wickets across six games at an average of 26.50. Zadran managed to dismiss the likes of Steven Smith, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahmudullah during the competition. 

Zadran also played a major role in Afghanistan’s first ODI World Cup win, which came in the same tournament against Ireland in Dunedin. The left-armer first claimed four wickets and then hit 12 off 10 with the bat, including the match-winning boundary, to lead Afghanistan to a one-wicket win.

"My journey began in the most challenging times of Afghan cricket. I faced difficulties, played under limited resources, and overcame many obstacles, but I never lost faith. The support of cricket fans, my teammates, coaches, and especially my family kept me going through every hardship,” Zadran wrote on Facebook.

“I sincerely thank everyone who stood by my side throughout this long journey. The love, prayers, and unwavering support of my family, friends, fans, and the people of Afghanistan have been my greatest strength. I will always be grateful for it."