Durbar Rajshahi faced a significant setback in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as their foreign players refused to play against Rangpur Riders due to unpaid wages. Despite management efforts to resolve the issue by delivering payments directly to the players, the players refused to engage.
Team captain Taskin Ahmed confirmed the situation during a post-match press conference after Rajshahi’s dramatic 2-run victory. Taskin stated, “The manager knocked on their doors with the money, but they didn’t open. They likely thought it was just a request. I spoke to them, and they told me, ‘Look, we won’t play unless we are paid.’ I respected their decision as a fellow cricketer, but there wasn’t much I could do.”
The controversy surrounding unpaid wages had already caused tension within the team earlier in the tournament, with players boycotting practice during the Chattogram leg and threatening to skip matches. Before the Rangpur game, even local players hesitated to participate, eventually agreeing after management issued cheques for their payments.
With foreign players unavailable, Rajshahi appealed to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for special permission to field an all-local XI, as BPL regulations mandate at least two overseas players in the playing XI.
The BCB granted the request, allowing the match to proceed. Rajshahi’s team bus arrived at Mirpur Stadium around 4:50 PM without any foreign players, and despite continued attempts to persuade Mohammad Haris, Ryan Burl, and Miguel Cummins, they remained firm in their decision not to play without receiving overdue payments. By 6:00 PM, the BCB officially approved the local-only team lineup.
The incident highlights recurring issues with player payments in the BPL, overshadowing on-field performances. The 11th edition of the tournament, which began with promises of reform, has been marred by payment disputes. Beyond Rajshahi, Chattogram Kings’ Parvez Hossain Emon reportedly hasn’t received any payments, with franchise owner Samir Qader Chowdhury openly admitting to withholding wages, stating he doesn’t “have money growing on trees.”
The escalating controversy has drawn the attention of the BCB, which held a four-and-a-half-hour meeting to address the matter. Iftekhar Ahmed, head of the Umpires and Media Committees, assured that steps are being taken to resolve the issues. “Players need not worry, as the BCB will ensure these matters are addressed. Franchise owners have been called, and we acknowledge what has occurred,” he said.
BCB director Mahbub Anam added, “The situation has been extensively discussed. Immediate steps will be taken jointly by the BPL governing council and franchise owners. A significant communication gap has developed, which must be bridged. Players must be assured that the BPL payment rules will be strictly adhered to.”
Anam also addressed the delay in resolving the payment concerns, stating, “Issues like these often surface when a tournament is halfway through, and stopping the event is not feasible. Many required actions involve legal measures, which we are now implementing. We acknowledge oversights from the BCB’s end and are committed to rectifying the situation to prevent recurrence.”
The BCB has reinforced directives for franchise compliance and expects a resolution within 48 hours. This episode has sparked renewed debates about player treatment in the BPL and the need for better financial accountability to restore trust and stability in the tournament.
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