Durbar Rajshahi Apologizes Over Delayed Payment to Players
Durbar Rajshahi, a franchise in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has apologized over its delayed payment of dues to their players. According to them, they would be clearing 50% of all the pending amounts by January 16. It was made a day after local players at the franchise, protesting over unpaid dues, skipped a training session in Chattogram on January 15.
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The players resumed training on January 16, but fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was missing due to workload management. The situation, however, brought to the fore the team’s long-standing financial problems. While the overseas players and the coaching staff were paid 25% of their dues after the fourth match on January 6, the local players had not received their dues.
Players Protest Payment Delays
Frustration among the local players had gone to the extent that a training session was called off. It was at this juncture that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed stepped in. He discussed the issue over Zoom with the board directors, and he met the team officials at the hotel to discuss the matter with Durbar Rajshahi officials, skipper Anamul Haque, and other players.
Jayed Ahmed, in-charge operations of the franchise, came in public apologizing for delays, but asserted that the abandoned practice had no link with payment problems.
“We are committed to paying all cricketers by January 16,” Jayed said in a statement. “The team management granted rest to some players who requested it after arriving late from Dhaka. The delay in payments was unfortunate. And we sincerely apologize for this. We will clear 50% of the dues by January 16. Paying 25% in cash and the rest through cheques he added”.
BCB Takes Action
Before the franchise came up with their statement, BCB director Manjur Alam spoke with the media in Chattogram.
I’m speaking as the BCB president,” he said. An emergency board met over Zoom on Saturday morning while I am appearing in person before others logged from elsewhere as director. President confronted team owners and spoke with his captain as well as other members to set some resolution about that issue. In negotiation processes that are continuing while hopefully coming tomorrow for solutions,” he stated.
Manjur added that the players would attend practice on January 16, which he described as a positive outcome of the discussions.
Payment Structure of BPL
The BPL governing council has very strict payment schedule for franchises. Teams have to pay 50% of players’ fees before the tournament. 25% during the tournament and the remaining 25% after the tournament they mentioned. Even with these rules, some local players in the Rajshahi camp have reported that they are not receiving their daily allowances properly.
Commitment to Resolving Issues
Durbar Rajshahi declared that the team will train in M A Aziz Stadium Chattogram on 16 January. This preparation is prior to their own match against Sylhet Strikers on 17 January.
The incident highlights potential mismanagement within BPL franchises in terms of financial management and ensuring that the players and the team’s staff receive timely payments for their work.
The commitment to solving the issue quickly by Durbar Rajshahi is a good move. It remains to be seen if the same issues will recur.
