Zakir Ali shared that every member of the Bangladesh team felt a deep heaviness in their hearts following the tragic Air Force jet crash at Milestone School and College.
The players were supposed to be enjoying a rest day after their easy win in the first T20I. But around midday, devastating news shook the entire team — the fatal crash at Milestone School and College on Monday cast a dark shadow over them. Reflecting on that painful moment, Zakir Ali said that the whole team was burdened with grief.
On Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh sealed the series with an 8-run win in the second T20I. Despite a late scare from Faheem Ashraf’s explosive batting, the hosts controlled most of the game.
However, even though the players gave their all on the field, their hearts remained heavy. Liton Kumar Das, Zakir Ali, Shariful Islam — all of them played with sorrow weighing them down after Monday’s heartbreaking incident.
Zakir, who was named Player of the Match for his responsible 55 off 48 balls after the top-order collapse, opened up about the team’s state of mind during the post-match press conference.
“It was tough. Yesterday was really… I mean, we all carried a heavy heart throughout. Honestly, no one wants to see such a heartbreaking incident. We prayed for everyone. We prayed for the souls of those who passed away. And for those who survived, we wish them a quick recovery.”
Zakir’s voice seemed to tighten as he spoke. It was clear how deeply the tragedy had affected him. Yet, as a professional, the 27-year-old batter stressed their commitment to give their best on the field.
“It was really tough for us as a team. Everyone was feeling down. But as you said, we are professionals. We have to take the field. So, we tried to forget everything for a while and give our best out there.”
