Shamim Hossain Shines Again, But Chittagong Kings Fall Short Against Fortune Barishal

Shamim Hossain Patowary has been in sensational form throughout this BPL season, consistently providing his team with quick runs in the final overs to set up big totals. His remarkable performances continued in the first qualifier, where he single-handedly rescued Chittagong Kings with a brilliant 79 runs off 47 balls. However, despite his heroic efforts, it wasn't enough to save his team from defeat as Fortune Barishal cruised to a 9-wicket win, securing their spot in the final.

Chittagong Kings' Struggle
For Chittagong, only two batsmen managed to score double figures – Shamim Hossain Patowary and Parvez Hossain Emon. Shamim's blistering knock was the highlight, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered under pressure. In the post-match press conference, Chittagong’s captain Mohammad Mithun acknowledged the individual brilliance of Shamim and Emon but also emphasized the team’s collective failure.

"It should not be forgotten where Shamim has taken us. When the momentum shifts in a match, it’s difficult. Initially, we lost momentum, but then Emon and Shamim brought it back. We lost too many wickets early, and even though we formed a partnership later, it wasn’t enough. I believe we should not be too dependent on just one player. Throughout the tournament, we’ve played as a team, and everyone has contributed in some way. Unfortunately, our batters couldn’t perform their roles today. Similarly, our bowling wasn’t up to the mark," said Mithun.

A Close Call Against Barishal
Chittagong had set a target of 150 runs for Barishal, hoping to challenge them till the very end. Mithun shared that his team had planned to fight till the final ball, even though they were facing a tough opponent. "I never thought we would lose until the last ball. We were committed to fighting till the end. Of course, Barishal is a very strong team, and to beat them, we need to play our best cricket, like we did in our previous matches," said Mithun.

The Path Ahead for Chittagong
Despite the loss to Barishal, Chittagong Kings still have a chance to reach the final. They will face Khulna Tigers in the second qualifier, and a win will see them advance to the final. Mithun remained optimistic about his team’s prospects, despite the setback.

On Foreign Player Signings
In the wake of other teams strengthening their squads with late foreign signings, Mithun was asked whether Chittagong would follow suit. He was clear in his response: "No, there are no such plans at the moment. We don’t believe in that approach. Simply signing a big name doesn’t guarantee success. The foreign players we have are already well-adjusted to the conditions here. Just bringing in a star player won’t ensure they deliver."

Chittagong Kings now focus on their next challenge, with the second qualifier against Khulna Tigers, where they must bring their best game to keep their title hopes alive.