A pall of gloom descended over the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Saturday as Mahbub Ali Zaki, the assistant coach of Dhaka Capitals, passed away after collapsing on the field just moments before his team's season opener against Rajshahi Warriors.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:30 pm at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium during the pre-match warm-up session. Zaki, 59, suddenly fell to the ground while overseeing training drills, approximately 20 minutes before the scheduled start of play.
Immediate medical assistance was provided on the pitch, where team staff and medical personnel administered Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). He was subsequently rushed by ambulance to the Al Haramain Hospital in Sylhet, where he was tragically pronounced dead.
In an official statement, the Dhaka Capitals confirmed that Zaki had felt unwell during practice before the collapse.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also expressed profound grief over the loss of the veteran coach, who was a respected figure in the cricketing community and previously served as the fast-bowling coach for the U-19 World Cup-winning Bangladesh team in 2020.
Despite the shocking event, the match proceeded as scheduled following a brief delay.
Dhaka Capitals captain Mohammad Mithun won the toss and elected to field. As a mark of respect, players and officials observed a one-minute silence during the innings break to honor the memory and legacy of the beloved coach, who is also widely respected for his role in Bangladesh's 2020 U-19 World Cup triumph.
Cricketers from Sylhet Titans, Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals went to Al Haramain Hospital as news of the incident spread.
Meanwhile, overcoming a profound personal tragedy, Dhaka kicked off their BPL campaign with a dominant 5-wicket win over Rajshahi.
The win was overshadowed by the sudden passing of Mahbub Ali Zaki. Despite the heartbreak, the Capitals delivered a resolute performance to honor the memory of the veteran coach.
After opting to bowl first, Dhaka’s bowling unit put on a clinic. Pakistani all-rounder Imad Wasim was the standout performer, ripping through the Rajshahi lineup to finish with exceptional figures of 3-16 in his four overs. He was well-supported by Nasir Hossain, who claimed 2-32.
The Warriors, fresh off a victory in their opening game, struggled to find their rhythm. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto provided some resistance with a 28-ball 37, but the team never recovered from early blows and was restricted to a modest 132-8.
Dhaka’s chase was anchored by Abdullah Al Mamun, who played a steady knock of 45 from 39 balls. While the middle order faced some pressure from Rajshahi's Mohammad Nawaz (3-21), Sabbir Rahman ensured there were no late hiccups. Sabbir’s aggressive cameo of 21 off just 10 balls*—including a towering six to finish the game—saw Dhaka reach 134-5 with seven balls to spare.
