Tragedy strikes BPL as coach Mahbub Ali Zaki dies just before season opener

Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki passed away on Saturday after he suddenly fell ill at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, just before his team’s first Bangladesh Premier League match against the Rajshahi Warriors. Zaki, who was 59, collapsed while the team was getting ready for the game. Support staff and doctors quickly tried to help him at the ground. He was then rushed to Al Haramain Hospital by ambulance, where doctors confirmed his death.

The match was played as planned, and before it began, the players, coaches, and officials stood quietly for one minute to honor Zaki.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board deeply mourns the passing of Mahbub Ali Zaki (59), Specialist Pace Bowling Coach of the BCB Game Development Department and Assistant Coach of Dhaka Capitals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2026.

“He passed away today, 27 December 2025, in Sylhet at around 1:00 PM. Mahbub Ali Zaki’s dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of fast bowling and Bangladesh cricket will be remembered with profound respect and gratitude.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire cricketing fraternity at this time of immense loss,” said the BCB in a statement on Saturday.

Everyone at the stadium was stunned by the sudden incident. Team officials said Zaki had not shown any signs of illness before it happened. As the news spread across Bangladesh’s cricket community, players from other BPL teams such as the Sylhet Titans, Noakhali Express, and Chattogram Royals hurried to the hospital.

Zaki became well known in Bangladesh cricket after he worked closely with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed in 2016, when Taskin’s bowling style was questioned during the Men’s T20 World Cup in India.

During his playing days, Zaki was a fast bowler. He played for Comilla district in the National Cricket Championship and also represented Abahani Limited, one of the most successful clubs in the Dhaka Premier League.