The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is one of the popular cricket leagues in South Asia. However, recent controversies surrounding non-payment of players have cast a shadow over the tournament’s reputation. World Cricketers Association (WCA) Chief Executive Tom Moffat has warned the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that if this trend continues, top international players may stop participating in BPL.
The Non-Payment Controversy
BPL has significantly contributed to Bangladesh’s cricketing growth by attracting international talent and providing local players with high-quality competition. The league is a key revenue source for the Bangladesh Cricket Board and plays an essential role in cricket’s popularity in the country. The presence of elite international players enhances the tournament’s appeal. However, if these players are not paid on time, they may choose other leagues over BPL, reducing its competitiveness and viewership.
Background of the Controversy
The ongoing BPL season has faced severe criticism due to payment delays, primarily linked to the Durbar Rajshahi franchise. Such delays have occurred in the past, raising concerns about financial mismanagement within the league. Delayed payments not only demotivate players but also disrupt team morale and performances. Cricketers rely on timely payments as their primary source of income, making non-payment a severe issue.
Durbar Rajshahi’s Role in the Controversy
Durbar Rajshahi has been at the center of the controversy, with reports of unpaid wages surfacing. This has forced the government to step in and investigate the matter.
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, met with Rajshahi’s owner Md Shafiq Rahman to discuss the issue. Legal actions have been threatened if payments are not cleared.
The Bangladesh government has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate why financially unstable franchises were allowed to participate. Asif Mahmud has made it clear that failure to resolve payment issues will result in legal action. This has put additional pressure on franchises to meet their obligations.
Asif stated, “We have formed a fact finding committee and they will find out how those who did not have the ability could come and participate here. I have spoken with the Rajshahi owner and I said that if you fail to pay it we will have to take legal steps. The image of the country was damaged due to one team despite all our efforts and who is responsible for it our fact finding committee will find it out later will we take action accordingly.”
BCB’s Acknowledgment of the Problem
BCB officials have admitted that some franchise selections were flawed, leading to financial instability. BPL governing council member secretary Nazmul Abedin admitted that due diligence was not properly conducted while selecting franchises, leading to the current crisis.
“I think we have not taken the right decision as far as giving it to this franchise. The thing that we should have taken into consideration like their experience and financial strength we did not take that into account and included them as a franchise and that is the reason we are facing this difficult situation,” Nazmul said standing beside Asif.
WCA CEO Tom Moffat’s Concerns
Tom Moffat has expressed disappointment over repeated non-payment issues in BPL. He warned that such incidents could harm the league’s credibility.
Moffat said to cricbuzz, “We expect that leagues with non-payment issues will continue to lose access to the best players. It’s disappointing to hear about more nonpayment issues in the Bangladesh Premier League, which has been a repeat offender over a number of years. These issues are unacceptable, they aren’t getting better, and it’s the players who make the event that are impacted.”
If non-payment issues persist, BPL might struggle to attract top-tier international players, affecting the overall quality of the tournament.
“In the meantime any governing body that has been part of sanctioning an offending league should be doing everything within its power to ensure players are paid what they are owed urgently, and considering people’s livelihoods are at stake,” he added.
The BCB elections are scheduled before the next BPL cycle. It remains to be seen whether the new leadership will implement stricter financial regulations. The BCB must implement a more structured payment process, ensuring that franchises deposit full player salaries before the tournament begins.