BPL 2024/25: Durbar Rajshahi apologise over non-payment of player fees

The tumultuous start to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has continued throughout the season. Six out of seven BPL teams failed to submit bank guarantees before the beginning of the tournament this year, and now, the franchise Durbar Rajshahi has come under serious scrutiny after players staged a protest due to non-payment of their fees and refused to participate in the practice season. 

However, after the ruckus was created, the franchise promised to pay the dues by January 16, and players are set to resume practice and game time. Notably, fifty per cent of the payments to the players are made before the start of the tournament and 25 per cent during it. The rest are made after the tournament is over. 

The Rajshahis had failed to pay the local players at all. Meanwhile, the overseas players have received only 25% of their league fees so far. The franchise got active soon as the news about the protests came out, and promised to solve the issue as soon as possible. Jayed Ahmed, operation in-charge of the Rajshahis, apologised for the delay and also clarified that the cancelled practice session had nothing to do with the fees issues. 

Also read - Six out of seven BPL 2024-25 franchises fail to submit bank guarantee to BCB 

“We are committed from the team management to all cricketers that we will pay them by January 16 and the not practicing is not related with it," Jayed said in a statement as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"When we came here from Chattogram, some cricketers got down in Dhaka to have rest, and we didn't get the whole team in Chattogram. Some of them came last night while others came today. One or two cricketers are yet to arrive. The cricketers wanted rest to the team management gave them rest. They will get the payment by January 16 and there is no doubt about it," he said.

"We were late in giving the payment and we cannot deny it and we apologise to everyone for it because this shouldn't have been the case. We are giving the payment tomorrow( Thursday) while the next two days are government holidays and so we will give 25 percent in cash while the rest 25 percent through cheque and we will pay off 50 percent by tomorrow.”

BCB director Manjur Alam also addressed the media before the franchise's statement.

"I am speaking on behalf of the BCB president. The board president called an emergency board meeting on Zoom. I was physically present, the other directors were online. Negotiations are in process," Manjur informed.

"Hopefully we can come to a solution tomorrow. The president spoke directly to the team owners, captain and players. We have a positive vibe from all parties. They will attend practice tomorrow, which is the most positive part of the negotiation.”