Senior Bangladesh coach dies just before BPL match; leaves players in shock
The 59-year-old falls ill during warm-up and preparatory routines about 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the fixture
By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Mahbub Ali Zaki, a senior cricket coach and assistant with the Dhaka Capitals franchise, died on Saturday after collapsing just minutes before his team’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against the Rajshahi Warriors, local officials and cricket authorities said.
The 59-year-old, who also served as a specialist pace bowling coach with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), fell ill during warm-up and preparatory routines at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, about 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the fixture in the 2025-2026 BPL season.
Team medical staff and physiotherapists immediately attended to Zaki on the field and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before he was rushed by ambulance to Al Haramain Hospital in Sylhet. Despite emergency efforts by doctors, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The sudden loss shocked players and officials present at the venue. While the match proceeded as scheduled, players and support staff observed a minute’s silence during the innings break to honour Zaki’s memory.
In an official statement on social media, the Bangladesh Cricket Board expressed deep sorrow at Zaki’s passing and extended condolences to his family, friends and the wider cricket community. The board highlighted his “dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of fast bowling and Bangladesh cricket.”
Dhaka Capitals, the franchise for which Zaki was assistant coach, also paid tribute, calling his death an “irreparable loss” and offering heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.
Zaki was a respected figure in domestic cricket, having played as a fast bowler earlier in his career for Comilla district in the National Cricket Championship and for prominent Dhaka Premier League clubs. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into coaching and development roles, eventually becoming a key mentor for young bowlers and a specialist pace coach under the BCB’s development programs.
News of his death reverberated through Bangladesh’s cricket fraternity, with players from several BPL teams and former national players offering condolences and paying tribute to his contributions to the sport.
The unexpected fatal collapse has underscored concerns about medical emergencies in high-pressure sporting environments, even as preparations for the country’s flagship T20 competition were underway.
