Bangladesh Fast-Bowling Coach Mahbub Ali Zaki Dies After Heart Attack

Mahbub Ali Zaki, one of Bangladesh’s most respected fast-bowling coaches, died on Saturday after suffering a heart attack ahead of a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. He was 59.

Zaki, who was serving as assistant coach of the Dhaka Capitals, collapsed during the team’s pre-match preparations for their fixture against the Rajshahi Warriors. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead shortly afterwards.

Despite the tragic incident, the match went ahead as scheduled. Players, coaching staff and match officials observed a minute’s silence before the start in tribute to Zaki.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where Zaki had worked for the past 17 years, paid tribute to his contributions to the game. In a statement posted on social media, the BCB said: “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.”

Zaki was a specialist pace-bowling coach in the BCB’s game development department and played a key role in nurturing fast bowlers across Bangladesh. He first gained national attention in 2016 for his work with Taskin Ahmed after the bowler was reported for an illegal bowling action. Zaki worked closely with numerous fast bowlers and regularly coordinated with overseas bowling coaches involved with the national team.

Known for his affable personality and dedication, Zaki had long harboured ambitions of establishing a fast-bowling academy in Bangladesh, modelled on India’s renowned MRF Pace Foundation.

During his playing career, Zaki was a fast bowler who represented Comilla district in the National Cricket Championship. He also played for Abahani Limited, Bangladesh’s most successful club in the Dhaka Premier League.

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the Bangladeshi cricket community, with many acknowledging Zaki’s lasting impact on the development of pace bowling in the country.