Watch: Fast-bowling coach Mahbub Zaki dies of heart attack before BPL 2025/26 clash

The renowned fast-bowling coach of Bangladesh, Mahbub Ali Zaki, passed away on December 27 after he suffered a heart attack before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) clash of Dhaka Capitals against Rajshahi Warriors at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. He was the assistant coach of the franchise and collapsed during the team’s pre-match routines.

Zaki was taken to the hospital, where authorities called him dead shortly afterwards, as he died at 59. The match went ahead as scheduled, with the players, coaches, and match officials observing a minute’s silence for Zaki. He was employed for the role for the last 17 years, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made a statement on social media.

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“Following his playing career, Mahbub Ali Zaki dedicated himself to coaching and player development. He joined the BCB in 2008 as a High Performance coach and went on to make a significant contribution to the growth of pace bowling in the country through his work.” The BCB expressed in the statement.

Mahbub Zaki dies at 59 of heart attack

Zaki was a specialist pace-bowling coach in the game development department of the BCB. He first came to prominence for his work with the veteran pacer, Taskin Ahmed, in 2016, when the latter was reported for the illegal bowling action, as Zaki worked closely with many fast bowlers in the country, apart from liaising with several overseas bowling coaches who worked with the Bangladesh team.

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A fine character among the team, Zaki, wanted to open an academy for the fast bowlers in Bangladesh, which is quite similar to the MRF pace foundation in India. Zaki, who was a fast bowler in his playing days, represented the Comilla District in the National Cricket Championship and also played for the Abahani Limited, which is the most decorated club of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

Dhaka went on to win the clash against Rajshahi by five wickets as they completed the successful chase of 134 runs with Imad Wasim bowling with the best match figures of 3/16 in four overs.