Fortune Barishal eye back-to-back titles or will Chittagong Kings claim their first?

The wait is almost over. Will Tamim Iqbal's Fortune Barishal celebrate a second consecutive BPL title, overcoming the pressure of defending their crown, or will the league welcome a new champion in Chittagong Kings? In just a few hours, the answer will be revealed.

Building a strong squad, executing game plans efficiently, and maintaining winning momentum—by all these measures, Fortune Barishal have been the most dominant and successful team in this year's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Staying true to expectations, they have made it to the final. The path for Chittagong Kings, however, has been different. But in the grand scheme of things, does that even matter? They now stand shoulder to shoulder with Barishal on the biggest stage, ready for the ultimate battle for the trophy.

Fortune Barishal and Chittagong Kings will face off in the BPL final at 6:00 pm today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. While Barishal have the opportunity to secure back-to-back titles, Chittagong , returning to the BPL after a decade, are chasing their first-ever championship. This is Barishal's third final in four years, while Chittagong are playing their second. The last time they reached this stage was in the 2013 final, where they finished as runners-up before exiting the league altogether.

Barishal's journey to the final has been dominant. Starting the tournament with a win, they lost only three times in the league stage, finishing with 18 points from nine victories in 12 matches. In the first qualifier, they steamrolled Chittagong by nine wickets to book their place in the final. Chittagong , on the other hand, started the tournament with a loss but bounced back with four consecutive wins. Despite some setbacks, they recovered well to finish with 16 points from eight wins, securing a spot in the first qualifier. After losing that match to Barishal, they edged past Khulna Tigers in a thrilling second qualifier to reach the final.

As defending champions, Barishal are focused on another title, but they are not letting the pressure get to them. Captain Tamim Iqbal believes that composure will be the key. "The team that stays the calmest will have the best chance of winning," said Tamim. "We have played in two finals before. I don't overthink finals much, and I hope this time will be the same. If you can't stay calm, you make mistakes under pressure. The team that handles it better will have more opportunities."

Chittagong are fully aware of Barishal's strength but remain confident in their own abilities. Australian head coach Shaun Tait shared his thoughts: "Of course, we are confident, but we are not getting overconfident. Confidence is necessary. The final is evenly poised for both teams. We have just won a fantastic match, so there is belief in the squad. Many might call Barishal the favourites, but that doesn't bother us. That perception won't change. We have been playing great cricket, and if we win, it wouldn't be a surprise because we are a strong team as well."

Tamim has been Barishal's key performer with the bat, leading from the front as a true captain. He has amassed 359 runs in 13 matches at an average of 35.90, including three half-centuries. England's David Malan, who missed the early games, has made an even bigger impact, scoring 315 runs in just eight matches at an impressive average of 78.75, with three fifties.

Towhid Hridoy, who struggled initially, found form at the right time, scoring a crucial 82 against Chittagong in the qualifier. Mahmudullah Riyad has made valuable contributions when needed, but Mushfiqur Rahim has not been at his best. Kyle Mayers, who played only a few games at the start before leaving, has returned and has found some runs as well.

In the bowling department, Barishal's leading performer has been Pakistani pacer Faheem Ashraf, who claimed 20 wickets in 11 matches—the second-highest in the tournament. However, he has now returned home after earning a national team call-up. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam has taken 10 wickets in 11 matches, while Mohammad Nabi and Rishad Hossain have played crucial roles. Mohammad Ali, who featured in just one game, made an instant impact with a five-wicket haul against Chittagong . Mayers has also chipped in with the ball, picking up five wickets in six matches.

For Chittagong , Usman Khan and Graham Clark were the early batting mainstays, both registering centuries. However, they struggled to maintain that form. Usman scored 285 runs in eight matches before being recalled to Pakistan's national squad. Clark remains a vital figure for Chittagong , scoring 387 runs in 13 innings, including a century and a half-century. Shamim Hossain Patwari, known for his explosive batting, has been a key finisher, scoring 350 runs in 14 innings, with two fifties.

Parvez Hossain Emon, who had a slow start, returned to form with a match-winning 75 against Barishal in the final league game. Captain Mohammad Mithun and Haider Ali have also made important contributions with the bat.

Chittagong 's bowling has been led by Khaled Ahmed, who has taken 20 wickets in 13 matches, making him the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker. Aliss Al Islam has supported him well with 15 wickets in 13 matches. Shariful Islam and Arafat Sunny have also played significant roles.

After 39 days of intense competition, Fortune Barishal and Chittagong Kings now stand at the final hurdle, just one step away from lifting the coveted trophy. Will Barishal defend their title successfully, or will the BPL crown a new champion? The answer will be known in just a few hours.