Afghanistan pacer announces retirement from international cricket ahead of Champions Trophy

Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran has announced his retirement from international cricket after a career spanning over 10 years. The 37-year-old left-arm fast bowler, a key figure in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, made the announcement on his Facebook page.

Zadran’s retirement marks the end of an era for Afghanistan cricket, as he played an integral role in the country’s early cricketing journey. He was part of Afghanistan’s squad in three ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaigns and is perhaps best remembered for his heroic performance in the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. In that match against Scotland in Dunedin, Zadran hit the winning runs to secure Afghanistan’s first-ever victory in World Cup.

However, Zadran has not played an international match since 2020, when he featured in a game against Ireland in Greater Noida. After more than two decades of service to the game, Zadran felt it was time to retire from international cricket.

In his retirement announcement, Zadran shared his emotions, saying, “Today is the day I never wanted to face, but it eventually comes for every player. 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.”

Reflecting on his journey, Zadran expressed pride in representing Afghanistan, saying, “Since childhood, I dreamt of representing Afghanistan, and looking back now, I am proud to have played a part in raising our nation’s flag on the international stage.”

Zadran has played 80 international matches for Afghanistan, claiming 43 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 37 wickets in T20 Internationals (T20Is). His contribution to Afghan cricket, particularly in the early years, helped the team make a mark on the world stage.