NEW DELHI — Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi in January and is receiving treatment for an advanced form of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The 38-year-old left-arm fast bowler has been placed in the intensive care unit.

Zadran first felt unwell in October in Afghanistan and was referred to hospitals in India for further treatment. He arrived in India with his wife and former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan.

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

After a few weeks of treatment, Zadran was discharged from the hospital and moved to a nearby hotel. "The doctor said we could drop in for the checkups frequently." Zadran said. After about 20 days feeling good, the infection returned and he was readmitted to the hospital.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare life-threatening disorder of immune regulation with a high mortality rate that usually occurs in infants and young children, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. In adults, infections and cancer can cause the condition, which weakens the body's immune system as certain histiocytes and lymphocytes attack other blood cells, causing the spleen and liver to enlarge. While the incidence is increasing, it remains underdiagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Afghan T20I captain Rashid Khan visited Zadran at his hospital bedside earlier this month. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said he was truly saddened to hear of Zadran's condition. "You've always been a fighter on the field, and I know you'll fight this too," Afridi said.

Zadran represented Afghanistan between 2009 and 2020, playing 43 one-day internationals and 37 T20 internationals over an 11-year career. He was part of Afghanistan's squad at the 2015 ODI Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where he took 10 wickets in six games. Afghanistan received Test status in 2017, though Zadran never played Test cricket for the country.

Zadran had a towering and broad frame, long hair, and an aggressive bowling style. He roared in celebration at every dismissal of a batter and became a fan favorite among Afghan cricket supporters. He learned cricket in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he lived for many years as a refugee before returning to Afghanistan in the early 2000s.