Dhaka Capitals began their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) campaign on a poignant yet victorious note, displaying remarkable mental strength to defeat Rajshahi Warriors by five wickets at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The victory came under deeply emotional circumstances for the Dhaka camp, which was shaken by the sudden and tragic death of assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki just moments before the toss.
Zaki reportedly collapsed after an awkward fall on the field, casting a sombre shadow over the match. Despite the profound grief, the players united and produced a composed and disciplined performance to honour their late coach.
Asked to bat first, Rajshahi Warriors struggled to replicate the form that had seen them dominate their opening fixture against Sylhet. They were restricted to a below-par total of 132 for eight, failing to build meaningful partnerships throughout the innings.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, fresh off a century in the previous match, once again stood tall with a fighting 37 off 28 deliveries, but received little support from the rest of the batting lineup.
Dhaka’s bowling attack proved decisive, led by Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim, who delivered a superb spell of 3 for 16 in his four overs. Nasir Hossain provided excellent support, claiming two wickets for 32 runs, as the duo dismantled Rajshahi’s top and middle order.
Although Mohammad Nawaz contributed a brief resistance with 26 runs down the order, Rajshahi never managed to regain control.
In reply, Dhaka Capitals approached the chase with caution. Abdullah Al Mamun anchored the innings with a responsible 45 off 39 balls, ensuring stability after early wickets.
The finishing touches were applied by Sabbir Rahman, whose blistering unbeaten 21 from just 10 deliveries accelerated Dhaka to 134 for five, completing the chase with seven balls remaining.
The win marked a strong and emotionally charged start for Dhaka Capitals, reflecting both their on-field quality and collective resilience in the face of tragedy.
