Uncertainty surrounds the cancellation of Durbar Rajshahi's practice

Even before the commencement of this year's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the issue of players' payments has been a topic of discussion. In previous editions, adhering to the rules of bank guarantees and paying 50% of salaries before the start of the tournament was ensured by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). However, this time, they could not guarantee the same. As a result, the issue of players' payments has frequently come under scrutiny.

The latest development occurred on Wednesday when players of Durbar Rajshahi canceled their scheduled practice session in Chattogram, reportedly due to bounced salary checks.

The practice was supposed to begin at 10 a.m. at the M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chattogram, as confirmed by the franchise in a statement to their WhatsApp group the day before. However, just 12 minutes before the session, it was called off. According to the franchise's statement, the session was canceled to provide players with rest.

Shortly after, rumors began to circulate that players had boycotted practice due to bounced checks for 25% of their payments. Some media outlets published reports on the issue. However, Durbar Rajshahi management denied any connection between the cancellation and the players not receiving payments, claiming instead that the decision was made to allow rest for a few players. The management also dismissed rumors regarding daily allowances being withheld for certain players or coaching staff.

When investigated further, Durbar Rajshahi management confirmed to The Business Standard that a few players had been on a two-day break after the Sylhet phase of the tournament. According to them, forcing these players to travel to Chattogram and start practicing immediately would cause fatigue. Hence, they opted to cancel the session.

A team official from Rajshahi acknowledged that some checks had bounced but clarified, "It's true that some players' checks have bounced, but there were instructions on when to deposit the checks. Since the franchise owner is abroad, local players were instructed to deposit their checks on January 16. However, some deposited them earlier, causing issues because the bank could not verify the signature due to the owner's absence. This matter will be resolved by tomorrow. The claims about daily allowances are untrue."

The franchise owner, Shafiq Rahman, is currently abroad due to his wife's illness. Rajshahi management claimed that the bank could not verify the owner's authorization, resulting in some checks being rejected. Nonetheless, the team's position on player payments remains unclear. According to management, foreign players and coaching staff have already been paid 25% of their salaries, while local players have only been given checks for this amount.

However, delayed check issuance and bounced payments have reportedly caused discontent among players. The BPL started on December 30. Before the tournament began, all franchises pledged to promptly pay players, and BCB officials echoed similar assurances. While some franchises have upheld these commitments, many others, including Rajshahi, have missed deadlines.

During the Sylhet phase, a Rajshahi player informed TBS that he was told payment would be made "within a day or two," but he has yet to receive it.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the player expressed his frustration, stating, "On January 6, I was told I'd be paid within a couple of days. But it's been 8–9 days, and I still haven't received my payment. To make things worse, some of our checks have bounced. Regardless of the reasons, this is deeply disappointing. Fifteen days into the tournament, we are still chasing payments. This is unacceptable. Now, they've promised payment tomorrow. Let's see if they stick to their word this time. If not, we'll need to consider our options."

Payment delays and withheld salaries have been recurring issues in the BPL. In its earlier editions, the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) intervened to secure players' dues. Subsequently, BCB implemented bank guarantees and a rule to pay 50% of salaries before the tournament. However, with the exception of one franchise, no teams this year have provided bank guarantees or paid the required 50% in advance.

Despite pledges of change, BCB President Faruk Ahmed previously assured, "This year, players will not have any complaints about payments."