Bangladesh cricket is moving quickly to stabilise itself after a period of disruption and a deeper reset is underway.
Within days of assuming control, former captain Tamim Iqbal has prioritised restoring domestic competitions, restructuring player payments, and addressing governance tensions that are now drawing global attention.
Dhaka Premier League restart takes centre stage
The immediate focus for the new Bangladesh Cricket Board leadership is restarting the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL), a tournament that underpins both the domestic structure and player earnings.
Months of administrative disputes and club resistance had brought the competition to a standstill, leaving a significant portion of the player base without consistent income. Rebuilding that system has now become the board’s first operational priority.
“Regarding the Dhaka Premier League, we have decided that we will immediately sit with each team and hold discussions with them. Our target is to announce the player transfer window as soon as possible and get the tournament started on the ground quickly,” Tamim told reporters.
The board has already initiated engagement with clubs to move the process forward, while outlining a structured plan to finalise logistics and scheduling. In an official statement, it confirmed: “As part of its commitment to domestic cricket, the BCB is moving ahead with plans for the 2025–26 DPDCL season. The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) will meet participating clubs and stakeholders on 8 April to finalise schedules and operational matters.”
Tamim acknowledged that infrastructure constraints could pose challenges, but made it clear that solutions would be found. “There is some concern regarding venue availability, but if necessary, we are even willing to rent grounds. Because now there are several private academies that are good enough to host List A matches. So if needed, we will go down that route,” Tamim said.
The urgency reflects a broader stance within the board to ensure cricket continues despite off-field disagreements. Board Director and Media Committee Chairman Md Mokhsedul Kamal Babu told reporters on Friday, “Let criticism continue, let competition continue—but cricket must not stop.”
He reinforced the need for parallel progress, adding, “While cricket is ongoing, we can discuss issues, raise concerns, and resolve them. There is a lot that can be achieved if we are willing.”
The board reiterated its collaborative approach, stating, “The BCB aims to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure a well-organised and competitive league.”
Pay structure overhaul targets long-standing gaps
Alongside restoring competition, the new leadership has moved to correct structural imbalances in domestic player compensation, an area that had seen little revision in recent years.
Introducing the changes, Tamim highlighted the extent of the issue. “To be honest, I was personally quite surprised today after reviewing some of the figures,” he told reporters.
That review led to a comprehensive revision of first-class salary structures across the National Cricket League. Category A players will now earn Tk65,000 per month (approx. US$ 520), up from Tk35,000 (approx. US$ 280), while Category B players will receive Tk50,000 (approx. US$ 400) and Category C players Tk40,000 (approx. US$ 320). Match fees for longer-format domestic games have also been increased to Tk1 lakh (approx. US$ 800).
Announcing the revised men’s domestic salary structure, Tamim said, “We have now approved revised salaries: Category A will receive Tk 65,000, Category B Tk 50,000, and Category C Tk 40,000 per month. This comes into effect from January 1. Although we are already in April and contracts may not have been signed yet, payments will be made accordingly from January.”
He framed the changes as a necessary correction to years of stagnation, with domestic salaries having remained largely unchanged despite the demands placed on players across the system. “As for the men’s cricketers, there has been almost no increment in the past three to four years. Previously, salaries were Tk 35,000 for Category A, Tk 30,000 for B, and Tk 25,000 for C — which, in my opinion, is highly underpaid. These players work hard, and cricket exists because of their efforts. At the very least, they deserve fair compensation,” Tamim added.
Women’s cricket receives targeted financial uplift
A key component of the overhaul has been addressing disparities in women’s domestic cricket, where compensation levels had historically been minimal.
Tamim openly criticised the previous structure, signalling a shift in approach. “Do you have any idea how much our women cricketers are paid as match fees in domestic cricket? At one point it was just Tk1,000… which I feel is completely inadequate,” he said.
Under the revised framework, match fees have been increased across formats, alongside improvements in monthly contracts for domestic players. Women cricketers will now earn Tk10,000 (approx. US$ 80) for T20 matches, Tk15,000 (approx. US$ 120) for one-day games, and Tk20,000 (approx. US$ 160) for longer formats, marking a clear shift from previously suppressed earnings levels. “What we have approved today may not be ideal, but it is certainly an improvement, considering there are limits to how much can be increased at once. From now on, women cricketers will receive Tk 10,000 for T20 matches, Tk 15,000 for one-day matches, and Tk 20,000 for longer formats (two-day, three-day, or four-day matches), which were previously around Tk 8,000 or so,” Tamim said.
Monthly earnings have also been adjusted, though within structural constraints tied to national contracts, with salaries rising from Tk30,000 to Tk40,000 (approx. US$ 320). “Regarding domestic contracts, around 30 to 35 women cricketers are currently contracted, earning Tk 30,000 per month. This has now been increased to Tk 40,000. However, there was a complication, as the lowest category in the national contract is Tk 60,000. So, we had to maintain a gap between domestic and national contracts, which limited how much we could raise it,” he explained.
He reiterated that limitation, noting, “The lowest category in the national contract is Tk60,000. So even if we wanted to increase domestic salaries further, we had to maintain that gap.”
Governance dispute escalates to ICC level
While domestic reforms are underway, Bangladesh cricket’s governance situation has moved into the international spotlight.
Former BCB President Aminul Islam has approached the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking intervention following his removal by the National Sports Council, alleging government interference.
That position has drawn scrutiny within ICC circles, particularly given earlier decisions involving government directives. An ICC Director, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI, “It is surprising that the same Bangladesh Cricket Board president, who cited the Bangladesh government’s instruction to not play in India as the reason for its non-participation in the recently-concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in complete disregard of a binding Members Participation Agreement with the ICC, is now seeking protection from the ICC and its constitution from an enquiry by and directive of its government.”
The situation highlights the complexity of Bangladesh cricket’s current transition, where administrative restructuring, political oversight, and international governance frameworks intersect.
