Bangladesh Cricket suffered a painful shock and grief on Saturday (December 27) following the sudden death of the most respected coach, Mahbub Ali Zaki.
The assistant coach of the Dhaka Capitals passed away due to a sudden heart attack amidst the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 season.
Following the tragic death of Zaki, the Dhaka Capitals skipper, Mohammad Mithun, shared his heartfelt condolences for the pace bowling coach.
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Dhaka Capitals Campaign Opener Hit By Tragedy
A 5-wicket victory against Rajshahi Warriors was short-lived for Dhaka Capitals following the death of Mahbub Ali Zaki in the campaign opener of BPL 2025-26 on December 27.
Imad Wasim’s 3-fer (3/16 in 4 overs) played a pivotal role in restricting the Warriors to a mere total of 132/8 in 20 overs. In response, Abdullah Al Mamun’s 45 runs off 39 balls (including 4 fours and 1 six) steered his team to a 5-wicket victory with 7 balls to spare.
However, Dhaka’s stunning triumph at the Sylhet International Cricket Ground in Sylhet was overshadowed by the untimely demise of their head coach, Mahbub Ali Zaki.
Zaki’s Death News Conveyed Before or After the Match?
Mohammad Mithun said that the news was conveyed to the team’s camp while the match was still taking place:
“See! We came to know about the news when we were on the field during the sixth or seventh over of the game. After hearing the incident, we didn’t know how to react at that moment.
Someone like Zaki, who was familiar and gave his best to cricket, suddenly passed away. As we were on the field, all we tried to do was to remain focused. But we couldn’t play wholeheartedly as everyone was completely depressed,” Mithun said.
All players, coaching staff, and match officials maintained a one-minute silence as a mark of respect towards the late veteran coach.
The medical team tried their level best to save Zaki by rushing him immediately to Al Haramain Hospital. Although the CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) was performed before and after being admitted to the hospital, the veteran coach was declared dead on the spot.
However, the players got to see Zaki’s face for the last time after the completion of the match and were then carried off in a white ambulance.
Mohammad Mithun’s Emotional Press Conference
During the post-match press conference, Mohammad Mithun said it was an unexpected loss for Bangladesh cricket as Mahbub Ali Zaki appeared perfectly normal ahead of the match:
“See! It was an unexpected loss and shocking news for the whole of Bangladesh cricket, which is something no one wanted to experience ever in their wildest dreams. For the past few months, we have faced such shocking incidents, making you more conscious of the fragility of life. No one can avoid such shocking announcements.
Zaki appeared to be perfectly normal during the selection meeting last night. There was nothing unusual when I saw him at breakfast. The shocking part is that the physios didn’t have any signs of him being unwell. We would have asked him to take rest if known about his health condition at the earliest,” the Dhaka Capitals skipper said.
‘A Father Figure’: Relationship Between Zaki and Players
Speaking about Mahbub Ali’s nature, Mithun said that the coach’s bonding with all players was like a father-son relationship:
“Yes! He was like a father to all players and never behaved as a strict or a headmaster-type coach. Given his immense experience, the contributions made by him to the Bangladesh Cricket Board will be valued greatly.
He supported the players by connecting with them deeply. Losing someone like him is very painful, the 34-year-old added.
Dhaka Capitals Captain Dedicates Win to Late Zaki
Mohammad Mithun concluded with an emotional speech before leaving the press conference, dedicating his team’s victory to their coach, Mahbub Zaki:
“Just a minute! From the bottom of my heart, I want to convey one thing. Our team would dedicate today’s game victory to Zaki sir. We all request you to keep him in your prayers and pray that Allah blesses him with Jannah (an Arabic word meaning Heaven in Islam),” Mithun concluded.
A Huge Loss for BCB After Zaki’s Death
The year 2025 now wraps up with a depressing note for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following Mahbub Ali Zaki’s shocking demise. During the pre-match warm-ups in Sylhet, the 59-year-old experienced coach attended the training session and seemed to be fit before suffering a sudden heart attack.
For the past 17 years, Zaki has been a core part of BCB, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the national team’s fast bowling attack. Under his guidance, the young talents rose to prominence and achieved tremendous success, including the big names like Shakib Al Hasan.
