Durbar Rajshahi in damage control mode, apologize and promise payment after players' outrage in BPL
Published - 16 Jan 2025, 12:28 PM | Updated - 16 Jan 2025, 12:29 PM
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Chaos erupted in Chattogram as Durbar Rajshahi cancelled their training session on January 15 during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25 (BPL 2024-25). The players refused to train, protesting against Durbar Rajshahi after being frustrated and disheartened with salary delays.
The Bangladesh Premier League franchise owner, Shafiq Rahman, delayed payment dates several times, forcing players to stage protests. Durbar Rajshahi players informed the management of their decision to skip training with the franchise, stating the team had "opted for a rest day."
Rajshahi Players refuse to train over payment delays during the BPL 2024-25
But the truth is that the local players had boycotted training after not receiving their payment for weeks. It is being said that the overseas players and coaching staff received 25% of their total fees after January 6, but the Bangladeshi players were forced to struggle for salaries in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25 (BPL 2024-25).
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After the matter became public, following the local players opting to boycott the practice session, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed consulted with the board directors in a Zoom meeting and later visited the team hotel to discuss the situation with Rajshahi owner Shafique Rahman, captain Anamul Haque, and several other players.
The protest worked in favor of Bangladeshi players, as the Durbar Rajshahi franchise apologized for delaying payments and promised to pay 50% of the fees by January 16. After this, the Rajshahi players returned to practice on Thursday (January 16), with only the star Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed missing due to workload management.
Durbar Rajshahi apologizes and promises 50% payment after player protest in the BPL 2024-25
Meanwhile, Jayed Ahmed, the operation in charge of the franchise, publicly apologized for the payment delays but clarified that the players didn’t cancel the practice session because of the payment issue. He revealed that some players stayed in Dhaka for rest before the whole squad arrived in Chattogram, and that’s why they rested the team management, coaches, and players.
According to Cricbuzz, Jayed Ahmed in an official statement: “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 to it. They will get the payment by January 16, and there is no doubt about it.”
The Durbar Rajshahi official signed off by saying, “We were late in giving the payment, and we cannot deny it, and we apologize 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 is through a cheque, and we will pay off 50 percent by tomorrow.”
Rajshahi franchise faces backlash as checks bounce and players bear their own costs during BPL 2024-25
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Governing Council has already set a clear payment schedule for franchises: 50% of players' total fees must be paid before the tournament, 25% during it, and the remaining 25% after the competition.
On January 9, the checks for some of their local players bounced as reported by ESPNCricinfo, and the players threatened the franchise with a walkout before their January 10 game against Khulna Tigers. Darbar Rajshahi team owner Shafique Rahman promised payment by January 14, but he once again failed to meet his promise in the ongoing BPL 2024-25.
Additionally, the Rajshahi players were forced to bear their own costs from January 5 to 11 after the franchise had not made daily allowance payments in the tournament.
