Bangladesh cricket was left in deep shock on Saturday, December 27, following the sudden passing of Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki. The former fast bowler collapsed shortly before his team's Bangladesh Premier League match against the Rajshahi Royals, triggering immediate concern among players, officials and spectators present at the venue.
Zaki was promptly attended to by team staff and on-ground medical personnel, who administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an effort to stabilise him. He was then rushed by ambulance to Al Haramain Hospital.
Despite the swift response, doctors declared him dead on arrival. The tragic news was later confirmed by Bangladesh Cricket Board chief physician Debashish Chowdhury.
According to officials
from the Dhaka Capitals camp, Zaki had not complained of any health issues prior to the incident. His sudden collapse came without warning, leaving teammates, support staff and officials visibly shaken. As word of the tragedy spread, players and representatives from several BPL franchises, including Sylhet Titans, Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals, arrived at Al Haramain Hospital to offer support and pay their respects.
Zaki was a respected figure in Bangladesh cricket, both as a former player and later as a coach. A right-arm pacer in his playing days, he represented Comilla District in the National Cricket Championship and was a regular feature in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. He turned out for some of the country's leading clubs, including Abahani and Dhanmondi, earning a reputation for his discipline and work ethic.
He gained wider recognition during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, when he worked closely with Taskin Ahmed after the fast bowler's action came under scrutiny. Zaki's technical inputs and support during that period were widely appreciated within the cricketing fraternity.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board expressed profound sorrow at his passing, extending condolences to Zaki's family, friends and colleagues. In a statement, the board prayed for strength for his loved ones and for peace for his departed soul, as the cricketing community grapples with an irreplaceable loss.
