The ongoing movement of the Bangladesh players gathered more pace as they added two more demands, including revenue sharing with Bangladesh Cricket Board, in order to support the players’ welfare fund.
The top notch players of Bangladesh, who are going through a strike with their initial 11-point demand, added those points and announced them through a media conference Wednesday at a city hotel.
Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan, one of the Supreme Court lawyers, stated the two new points along with explanation of all 13 points on behalf of the players.
Mustafizur also confirmed that the letter has not been submitted for legal procedure rather he is just helping the players as an expert to articulate their demands in a proper manner.
The players demanded that the income of the board, which is the outcome of the players’ hard work, must be shared and they wish to utilize the revenue in order to boost the welfare of the cricketers, especially who are in need.
“Going forward, there should be transparency and accountability of income and expenditure in Bangladesh cricket in the interest of all its stakeholders. Arrangements will have to be made where professional cricketers are given a fair share of the revenue generated by BCB through commercial exploitation of cricket and its associated interests, which, after all, is made possible through the toil and performance of the professional cricketers in the first place,” the handout, which was read by the lawyer, stated.
It also said in the 12th point that, “A cricketer's welfare, provident and compensation fund and insurance scheme has to be established and administered, which will ensure welfare of cricketers who have fallen on hard times, provide pensions to retired cricketers and compensation to injured cricketers.”
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Association has come in support of the top @BCBtigers cricketers who have called a strike, putting forth an 11-point demand to the Bangladesh Cricket Board.https://t.co/V6lpWi5sQY#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #FICA #BANGLADESHCRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 22, 2019
The top cricketers Monday declared their 11 points and said they would continue an indefinite strike and will not take part in any cricketing activities until their demands are fulfilled.
During the announcement in front of journalists at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, the players also urged the women cricketers of the country to come up with their demands as well so they can move together.
And Wednesday, the players added the new point demanding gender parity by improving the facilities of female cricketers.
Mustafizur also explained the legitimacy of the demands according to the country’s constitution and depicted why it is important to build a safety net for the budding talents of the game.
“My clients believe and have been advised that their demands are consistent with the freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh to all her citizens, including the right to profession and association,” said the players’ spokesperson.
“My clients hope that the BCB will understand and appreciate the risks that a young cricketer takes when he or she embarks upon a professional career in cricket in terms of sacrificing an academic career, not pursuing other career alternatives, risks of injury and form and the limited window of time during which he or she has to earn his living and secure his or her future.
“My clients look forwards to the kind and sympathetic consideration of the BCB of their demands, and the support of all concerned,” added the lawyer.
In the conclusion of the press meet, the representative of the players clarified that the cricketers will resume their playing activities once their demands are met in a constructive way.
Below is the official list of demands -
1. The present committee of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh will have to resign immediately. Going forward, a professional cricketers association, whether under the name of CWAB or otherwise, will have to be established. This association will be independent and autonomous of the BCB, having a written constitution and an executive committee elected annually by professional cricketers meeting a defined eligibility criteria. This association will represent the interest of the professional cricketers of Bangladesh, as distinct from the other stakeholders of cricket in Bangladesh, such as the administrators, the club and franchisee owners and sponsors. My clients believe that their demand for an independent and autonomous professional cricketers association is imperative in the continuing development of the sport in Bangladesh, and is commensurate with the administration of cricket in other Test playing countries, such as England, where the Professional Cricketers' Association was established in 1967, and Australia, where the Australian Cricketers Association was incorporated in 1991.
2. The Dhaka cricket leagues, including the Dhaka Premier League, will have to be organized as it was before introduction of the draft system and remuneration caps. There should be freedom of choice for the players in entering into contracts with clubs and the market should be allowed to determine their remuneration.
3. From next season, the Bangladesh Premier League will have to be organized as it was before, with reintroduction of the franchisee system. Players should have the freedom of choosing the category in which they are placed for auctions, or otherwise negotiate contracts with franchises freely. Discrimination in remuneration between foreign and Bangladeshi cricketers will have to be removed.
4. The match fee for First Class Cricket will have to be increased to Tk1,00,000/- (Tk1 lakh only) per match. Players' salary will have to be increased. Coaches and physios will have to be provided all year round. Arrangements for year round practice will have to be made at each divisional headquarter.
5. The daily allowance of Tk1,500/- provided to cricketers during domestic matches is meager and inadequate. This has to be increased. Where available, air travel to and between venues has to be provided. Improved hotel accommodations will have to be arranged.
6. The number and salary of cricketers contracted with the BCB will have to be increased.
@BCBtigers Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan’s press conference Tuesday regarding the ongoing protests by top cricketers of the country did not provide an exact resolution to the ongoing issue.https://t.co/OzaQMSywDs#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 22, 2019
7. The salary of local staffs, including coaches and groundsmen, will have to be increased.
8. The number of List A matches and tournaments will have to be increased, and at least one other annual T20 tournament has to be introduced domestically.
9. A domestic calendar has to be introduced, and more importantly maintained, so that players can know in advance and plan accordingly in their personal and family lives.
10. Players' dues, including dues from the BPL, have to be settled timely.
11. The restriction on Bangladeshi cricketers playing more than two franchisee leagues globally will have to be removed. Schedule and national commitments permitting, a player should be allowed to play as many franchisee leagues as he may receive offers for.
12. Going forward, there should be transparency and accountability of income and expenditure in Bangladeshi cricket in the interest of all its stakeholders. Arrangements will have to be made where professional cricketers are given a fair share of the revenue generated by BCB through commercial exploitation of cricket and its associated interests, which, after all, is made possible through the toil and performance of the professional cricketers in the first place. A cricketer's welfare, provident and compensation fund and insurance scheme has to be established and administered, which will ensure welfare of cricketers who have fallen on hard times, provide pensions to retired cricketers and compensation to injured cricketers.
13. To the extent practical and commercially feasible, similar provisions as above will have to be made for female cricketers, with the ultimate objective of attaining gender parity as early as possible.