Grieving Khaled takes the field, earns praise with stellar bowling

Just three days after the passing of his mother, Khaled Ahmed returned to the cricket field, showing immense mental strength and professional dedication.

The Chittagong Kings pacer not only played in their match against Fortune Barishal on 19 January but also delivered a standout performance, taking two wickets for 27 runs.

His decision to play, despite the tragedy, left teammates and fans in awe.

Khaled had been in Sylhet with his family following the heartbreaking news he received on 16 January, shortly after Chittagong's victory over Khulna Tigers. Missing the next game against Rangpur Riders was expected, but Khaled chose to rejoin the team in Chittagong on 18 January, asking to play the following day.

Chittagong Kings assistant coach Enamul Haque Jr praised Khaled's resilience during the post-match press conference:
"To be honest, I'm extremely proud of Khaled. Despite such a challenging situation, he agreed to return from Sylhet for the team's benefit. I believe staying in Sylhet would have deepened his grief. Khaled called me and asked, 'What should I do, bhai?' I advised him that returning to the team might help lighten his mood. He told me, 'Bhai, I want to play against Barishal.' To see him come back, play, and bowl so well after such an incident has been inspiring for all of us."

Khaled's presence gave Chittagong a glimmer of hope in a match where their batsmen had failed to post a competitive total. Entering the attack in the fifth over, he immediately dismissed Towhid Hridoy with his first ball. Later, in the tenth over, he sent Mahmudullah back to the pavilion as the experienced batter attempted a counter-attack.

Despite Khaled's efforts, Chittagong lost the game by six wickets. Yet his performance and spirit won the admiration of all. With 10 wickets in 6 matches at an economy rate of 7.53, Khaled has been one of the standout bowlers in this season's BPL.

Enamul Haque Jr highlighted Khaled's determination further:
"Such commitment is rare. He wanted to contribute even when facing one of life's hardest moments. His bowling today was exceptional, and it shows how much he values the team and his role."