The owner of the Rajshahi franchise presented a possible payment plan for the players’ dues, which the BCB found somewhat reassuring. As a result, they have given the franchise additional time to resolve the payment issues but have also stated that all activities of the team will now be closely monitored.
“On the field, at least you know how many bouncers are allowed. But these guys don’t even know how many times their cheques will bounce!” joked a cricketer in front of the BCB Academy building on Tuesday during the unveiling of trophies for the First Division Cricket League. His comment reflected the ongoing controversy surrounding the repeated dishonoring of cheques issued to Durbar Rajshahi’s players. The issue has become a hot topic not just in the BPL but across Bangladeshi cricket.
Despite repeated assurances and promises, no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the payment issue. Following the latest meeting between the BCB and the franchise owners, the same promises were heard again. BPL Governing Council Member Secretary Nazmul Abedin revealed that Rajshahi’s owners presented a possible roadmap for resolving the payments, and based on that, the BCB granted them a little more time.
The salary controversy, which first surfaced during the Chattogram leg of the BPL, remains unresolved. Even after completing all their matches in the first phase, Rajshahi’s players have only received 25% of their payments. According to the tournament’s rules, 75% of the payments should be cleared by the end of the phase.
Following a canceled practice session in Chattogram due to non-payment, BCB intervention resulted in the franchise disbursing 25% of the players’ salaries. An additional 25% was issued through cheques, but the players received no money as the cheques bounced. Last Sunday in Dhaka, the players were handed new cheques, but the issues persisted. On Tuesday, local players again failed to withdraw money using the cheques, which means yet another dishonored payment by the Rajshahi franchise.
This news spread in the morning, and by the afternoon, the BCB held a meeting with franchise owners, including Rajshahi co-owner Shafiqul Rahman.
After the meeting, Nazmul Abedin addressed the media, stating that the BCB would now monitor Rajshahi’s activities regularly to ensure compliance.
“For those who are lagging behind on payments, we’ve discussed how they plan to overcome this stalemate. They’ve given us certain commitments, and we’ve listened to them. We’ve allowed them some time to fulfill these promises.
“From now on, we’ll be keeping a close eye on them at all times to ensure they’re honoring their commitments. We’ll keep them under as much pressure as possible to make sure the players are satisfied with their payments.”
Nazmul also admitted that the bulk of the meeting revolved around Rajshahi and its co-owner.
“This issue has been discussed repeatedly. We’ve had more detailed discussions about this. We’ve conveyed to the Rajshahi owner what they should do, what is feasible, and what we expect from them.”
He added that the BCB would now monitor the payment process regularly and see if the promises made by Rajshahi are being kept.
“They’ve shown us a plan for how they intend to make the payments. We’ll observe closely whether they can follow through with it.”
With the 11th BPL season nearing its conclusion, assurances and promises alone seem insufficient to address the situation. When asked how long such promises could be trusted, Nazmul admitted that their confidence had been shaken.
“Our trust has eroded somewhat, which is why we’ll be monitoring them every step of the way. If they had kept their promises to some extent, we wouldn’t have been this concerned. But now, we’ll regularly observe their progress to ensure they’re following through.”
If the franchise ultimately fails to clear the players’ payments, the BCB will have to intervene as a last resort. According to Nazmul, the BPL contract includes provisions for such situations.
“If a franchise fails to pay, the necessary legal actions are already outlined in the contracts. We’ll act according to those guidelines.”
Meanwhile, there are also payment issues with the Chattogram Kings. Their owner, Samir Quader Chowdhury, admitted to the media that left-handed opener Parvez Hossain had not been paid. He told The Daily Star, “Do I grow money on trees? He didn’t satisfy me, so I didn’t pay. I’ll decide later if I get a proper explanation.”
When asked about this, Nazmul said Samir was absent from Tuesday’s meeting due to illness, so they couldn’t address his comments or Parvez’s payment issues.
Nazmul described such remarks about a national player as disappointing and unexpected.
“We don’t expect anyone to make such comments. A player or a team may perform well or poorly, but I believe someone like Parvez has given his best effort. Cricket teaches us to respect one another, and that respect is essential.”
