BANGLADESH CRICKETERS' STRIKE

BCB president slams cricketers on strike

by Atif Azam • Last updated on

Bangladesh is wading through a crisis as the cricketers called for an unprecedented strike. © Getty

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan lambasted the nation's cricketers for going on a strike, leaving Bangladesh's Test and limited-overs tours of India in doubt. He also lamented that the board wasn't informed about the strike.

Bangladesh is wading through a crisis as the cricketers called for an unprecedented strike on Monday (October 21) in order to press home their 11 demands. The demands are mostly financial in nature, including a pay hike for national-contracted players and better remuneration for first-class cricketers. The demands also include the restoration of the previous pay structure in the Dhaka Premier League and a return to franchise-based Bangladesh Premier League from next season.

According to Nazmul, most or all of the aforementioned demands were on the verge of being met. ''I don't know what they are talking about,'' Nazmul said, after completing an emergency meeting with his board members at the BCB premises. ''We are always open to talk with them. But, why didn't they inform us before informing you in the media? There must be a reason behind it.

''Just a month ago, I told the Chairman of CCDM to reinstate the traditional system of Players Transfer in the Dhaka Premier League, and it is due to be implemented next season. The players know it well. The players-by-choice system was adopted to quell discrimination, as in the traditional players transfer, only some big players gain financially, but most of the players lose out in it. Since the players want the old system, we don't have any objection.

"The BCB (also) has taken the responsibility to pay the salaries of the players (Dhaka Premier League) if the clubs fail to give it. And BCB has already paid. However, the BCB first tries to force the club to pay it on time. If BCB first pays the players, the clubs will get the advantage and won't give the money,'' he added.

Nazmul also noted that only for the upcoming season, BPL would be held without a franchise-based system. ''You all know the BPL will be held without any franchises just this year. Next year, it will be held the way it was previously done. It was made clear early, so why this demand. And with regard to salary, it is completely up to franchisees. The players know well that BCB has nothing to do with it."

Nazmul also touched upon the demands related to better remuneration for first-class cricketers, an increase in salaries for centrally contracted players and daily allowance. He insisted that they were working hard to ensure the cricketers are well paid.

"The match fee of first-class cricketers has been increased every year, despite no significant improvement of their performance. In case of national players' salary, it was increased to 4 lakh BDT per month from 2.50 lakh BDT. 15 national cricketers got a bonus worth BDT 15 crore. Did they reveal this matter to you? Fans could never imagine how much they earn from the BCB every year.

''The daily allowance was earlier BDT 1000 and we increased it to BDT 1500. Gradually it will be improved. Every district has got a coach and other facilities. I don't think the players who raised the demands actually know this. Work is in progress to set up academies in every district. We are trying to increase the number of grounds and all those are in progress,'' he noted.

The BCB president also observed that they will try to dig deeper and get to the root cause of the problem. ''I don't believe they are doing it for money. There maybe some other reasons; part of a plan, a conspiracy to destabilise cricket but we will find out the conspirators. It's just a matter of time and Bangladesh is a small country and we are aware of who are behind this, and there can be one or two cricketers involved in it. But, they have managed to tarnish the image of the country to some extent.

''Why are they not asking me when they know they would get what they want. Everything has a reason, not all players are doing it consciously, maybe one or two players are aware of it. The basic objective of this strike is to spoil the camp and India tour, some outsiders are working on this, there could be some insiders, we will find out."

Nazmul, however, was hopeful that the tour of India will go ahead as per schedule. Bangladesh are scheduled to start their preparation camp for the tour on October 25. The Asian nation is scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests in India in November.

''I am hopeful that there will be a camp and the India series will go on as per schedule. I still believe that most of the players want to play. I don't believe just for increasing some remuneration, they will destroy cricket in the country."

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