Mahbub Ali Zaki, the assistant coach of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team Dhaka Capitals and a specialist pace bowling coach attached to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has died after suffering a heart attack just before the start of a match on Saturday.
Zaki collapsed on the field moments before Dhaka Capitals’ opening game of the BPL T20 2026 in Sylhet. He was rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He was 59.
In a statement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed that Zaki passed away at around 1:00 p.m. on December 27 in Sylhet.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board deeply mourns the passing of Mahbub Ali Zaki, Specialist Pace Bowling Coach of the BCB Game Development Department and Assistant Coach of Dhaka Capitals in the Bangladesh Premier League,” the statement said.
Zaki was widely respected for his long-standing contribution to the development of fast bowling in Bangladesh and had worked closely with emerging players through the BCB’s game development programmes.
“The dedication and invaluable contribution of Mahbub Ali Zaki to Bangladesh cricket will be remembered with profound respect and gratitude,” the BCB said, extending its condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the wider cricketing fraternity.
The Bangladesh Premier League is currently underway in Sylhet, with Dhaka Capitals among the participating teams. (Newswire)
