But when it comes to paying salaries to the players, cricket's governing body in Bangladesh often lags behind the other nations, including ICC Associate Ireland. What's more, Zimbabwe are also not far behind Bangladesh as far as the players' wages are concerned.
Top grade Bangladesh cricketers like Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim receive an annual salary of US$37,500 while the second, third and lowest grade national players pocket $30,000, $15,000 and $11,250 respectively every year.
A top grade Ireland cricketer is paid up to $75,000 while a Zimbabwe “A” grade player like Hamilton Masakadza gets $66,000. Second and third grade Zimbabwe cricketers meanwhile, receive $48,000 and $36,000 respectively from the board.
To add to that, the current match fee of a Bangladesh cricketer in a Test match is $2,440. The figure is $1,210 per ODI and $915 per T20I.
In contrast, a Zimbabwean player pockets $2,000 in a Test, $1,000 in an ODI and $500 in a T20I. As far as Ireland goes, a cricketer gets $1,100 in an ODI and $450 per T20I.
Not surprisingly, difference in the players’ salary structure has created some dissatisfaction among the Bangladeshi cricketers. The BCB though will duly respond as it was learned that the wages of the cricketers are likely to be increased in the next board meeting that will take place on Saturday.
According to the new salary scale, the BCB has proposed an increase of 60 percent in yearly wages and match fees.
In accordance with the proposed structure, a top grade Bangladesh cricketer will receive $60,000 annually while a second grade player will get $40,000. The third and lowest grade Bangladesh cricketer will pocket $25,000 and $15,000 respectively.
The match fee of the Bangladesh cricketers is also likely to be hiked with the players set to receive $4,300 in a Test, $2,500 per ODI and $1,250 in a T20I.
It was learnt from a source that a top grade Sri Lanka cricketer gets a yearly salary of $1,20,000, second grade $1,00,000, third grade $80,000 and the lowest grade $60,000.
The match fee of a Lankan cricketer is $5,000 in a Test, $3,000 per ODI and $2,000 in a T20I, which are still higher than the newly-proposed salary structure of the Bangladesh cricketers.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the yearly salary and match fee of cricketers from India, Australia, England and New Zealand and even financially crippled boards from the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are much higher.
With that said, the BCB's decision to hike the salary and match fee will certainly boost the morale of the national cricketers for the time being. But they would still get less than most of their counterparts, despite the 60 percent increase.
However, one consolation for the Bangladesh cricketers might be that they get paid a whole lot more compared to the other sportsmen and top employees of banks and multi-national companies in the country.