Sylhet, Bangladesh – In a tragic turn of events, Mahbub Ali Zaki, the assistant coach of the Dhaka Capitals, passed away on Saturday after collapsing at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The incident occurred minutes before the team's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against the Rajshahi Warriors.
According to reports, Zaki collapsed during the warm-up session, approximately 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the game. Team staff and medical personnel immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the venue. He was then rushed to Al Haramain Hospital via ambulance. Despite the immediate response and efforts, doctors at the hospital pronounced him dead. He was 59 years old.
The sudden and shocking incident left players and staff from both teams, as well as those from other BPL franchises such as Sylhet Titans, Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals, in deep shock. Many visited the hospital following the news. Players and officials observed a minute of silence in memory of Mahbub Ali Zaki during the innings break.
The Dhaka Capitals confirmed the incident in a brief statement, noting that Mahbub Ali Zaki felt unwell during training and collapsed. The statement further mentioned that CPR was immediately administered, and he was taken to the hospital for further examination.
Despite the tragedy, the BPL match between the Dhaka Capitals and the Rajshahi Warriors proceeded as scheduled. The Dhaka Capitals won the toss and elected to field. Rajshahi Warriors scored 132 runs, with Najmul Hossain Shanto contributing 37 runs. The Capitals chased down the target in 19.1 overs, securing a 5-wicket victory. Abdullah Al Mamun scored 45 runs and Sabbir Rahman remained unbeaten on 21.
Mahbub Ali Zaki had a long and dedicated career in cricket. After his playing career, he transitioned to coaching and player development. Zaki joined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as a high-performance coach in 2008 and made significant contributions to the national team, particularly in the pace bowling department. During his playing days, Zaki represented Comilla District in the National Cricket Championship and also played for prominent clubs like Abahani and Dhanmondi in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. He also played a vital role in working with Taskin Ahmed after his bowling action was under scrutiny in 2016.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed profound condolences on social media, acknowledging Zaki's contributions as a Specialist Pace Bowling Coach for the BCB Game Development Department and Assistant Coach of Dhaka Capitals.
