The electronic band structure, absorption and luminescence properties of Cr2+-doped ZnSe crystal have been investigated by first-principles calculations on the basis of density functional theory. First-principles calculations were carried out using the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP). It is shown that isolated impurity bands that mainly made up of Cr(d) orbitals are created in the band gap with the doping of Cr2+ ions. The Cr(d) orbitals are split into e and t(2) groups because of the potential of the crystal. Theoretical absorption and luminescence spectra are calculated and compared with experimental data. An appropriate explanation of the experimental spectra is presented. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.