Mahbub Ali Zaki, Dhaka Capitals’ assistant coach, died tragically after falling unexpectedly during a 2025-26 Bangladesh Premier League match against Rajshahi Warriors at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, December 27. Zaki was certified dead after being taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
Mahbub Ali Zaki collapsed on the ground prior to the start of the match, prompting the personnel to take him for an instant check-up.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was promptly performed on him by team members and medical experts present at the event. He was then taken to Al Haramain Hospital, where he was declared dead. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief physician, Debashish Chowdhury, acknowledged the development.
Cricketers from many BPL franchises flocked to the hospital in Sylhet as the news spread like wildfire. Shakib Al Hasan, a veteran Bangladeshi all-rounder, was among the first to express his deep sorrow on social media.
The BCB also went to social media to express profound sorrow and extreme bereavement over the passing of the 59-year-old specialised pace-bowling coach from the governing body’s Game Development division.
Zaki is believed to have played an important role in collaborating with Taskin Ahmed after his bowling performance was scrutinised during the T20 World Cup in India in 2016. He was a former fast bowler. During his playing career, Zaki represented Comilla District in the National Cricket Championship. He has competed in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League for prestigious clubs such as Abahani and Dhanmondi.
Zaki made a crossover to coaching and player development following his playing career. He had joined the BCB as a high-performance coach in 2008. Zaki went onto make crucial contributions in the field of pace bowling as well as nurtured some of the finest talents through his meticulous work in the years to come.
India
