The Broke Premier League - Players growing agitated as BPL team owners stalling payments

The eleventh edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) began on 31 December. As of now, six days have passed, and eight matches have been held. After the first phase in Dhaka, the BPL has now moved to Sylhet, where the matches will begin on 6 January. Five teams have already arrived in Sylhet, and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium's academy ground is bustling with cricketers.

Practice sessions are underway daily, and players are preparing for their matches. However, amidst all the cricket activities, there is underlying frustration and disappointment. Most franchises have still not properly paid the players. Many cricketers began this year's BPL without receiving any payment. Franchises have stated that the first phase of payments will be made in the coming days.

However, not all franchises have kept their word. Five franchises have made partial payments to their players, but even that is not consistent. Some players, despite receiving partial payments, are dissatisfied as many franchises have only paid 25 percent. For players who haven't received anything, the level of frustration is easy to imagine.

This is not just speculation. In an interview with The Business Standard, several cricketers from various teams expressed their disappointment. Some even vented their anger. These players are not only pointing fingers at the franchises but also holding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) accountable.

It is the BCB that allowed this situation to develop. According to the rules, before the tournament begins, the BCB should have collected a bank guarantee of 1.5 crore taka from each franchise. However, before this year's edition, the BCB only received a bank guarantee from one franchise. Additionally, it is mandatory for franchises to pay 50 per cent of the players' fees before the tournament starts, but this rule has not been followed.

Five days into the tournament, no franchise has fully paid the 50 per cent fee to its players. One franchise has paid 50 per cent to a few players. Four other franchises have paid varying amounts, and some have only paid 25 per cent, though not all players have received it. The remaining two franchises have not paid any players yet and are repeatedly promising to do so, as is the BCB's assurance.

Naturally, cricketers from these two teams find themselves in a state of uncertainty. Some have shared their frustration, while others have expressed their anger. Several players have stated that if they do not receive their payment soon, they will bring the matter to the media. For obvious reasons, these players prefer to remain anonymous. One player, who has yet to receive a single taka, said, "I still haven't received anything. They've told me they'll pay within the next couple of days."

"But I don't trust them fully. They've been saying this since before the BPL started. Even though they keep repeating the same thing, we're still not getting paid. No one in our team has received any money. This hasn't happened in the last few years. The BCB should have ensured the bank guarantees and the 50 per cent payment before the tournament began. Let's see if they pay in the next couple of days. If not, I'll make this issue public."

Another player, who hasn't received any payment, mentioned that their franchise assured them they would receive the first portion of their payment by 10 January. This player, also disappointed, said, "We've been patient so far, but this is not the rule. According to the rules, payments should be made to us. They've promised to pay by 10 January. Let's see. If the payment is not made by that date, I won't trust the team anymore."

Another player expressed that those who have been saying they are patient and trusting the franchisees will not be able to remain patient much longer. While satisfied with the performance on the field, he said, "The games are going well, runs are coming in nearly every match. But if the very people who are making this event happen—who are providing the entertainment—don't get paid, what's the point of this tournament! Many of us are being patient, and we're saying the same in the media. But if this continues, we won't be able to maintain our patience."

One player, angrily criticising a franchise, said, "I saw one franchise doing everything except paying the players. They've made players brand ambassadors, brought in foreign hosts, but their players don't even have helmets or pads. They have to play with other helmets and pads, with clothes tied around them. We understand that the BPL is a platform for show-offs, and they can do that. But they should pay the players first before doing that."

Rangpur Riders have paid 50 per cent of the fees. However, a representative from Rangpur Riders who spoke to The Business Standard could not confirm whether all players received this amount. Sylhet Strikers have paid 50 per cent of the fees to local players, with payments for foreign players still in process. Dhaka Capitals have paid 25 per cent to most of their players, with a few players still waiting.

Chittagong Kings have not paid the same amount to all players, and some haven't received any payment at all. The current BPL champions, Fortune Barishal, have started making payments, though not all players have received equal amounts. Khulna Tigers and Durbar Rajshahi players have not received any payment yet. Many players who were drafted have not received any payment either. Even some players who were directly signed through contracts haven't received their promised payments.