Mahmud: Cricketers taking the wrong path

Former national team captain, BCB director and CWAB (Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh) vice president Khaled Mahmud has welcomed the current Bangladesh cricketers’ initiative to form a separate welfare association. Mahmud however, is wondering whether the cricketers have any intention of fighting with the BCB for their rights. The current cricketers, involving the leading ones in the shape of Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Wednesday had a meeting at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium gym in Dhaka. Although none of the cricketers spoke in public with regards to the agendas, reports suggest the cricketers have the intention of forming an association, or sit with CWAB, or take charge of CWAB in order to preserve their interests in the best possible way. The players have become united with the aim of taking care of the unfair payment structure in the form of the players’ draft in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. It is also understood that the cricketers feel the current committee of CWAB with Naimur Rahman as president and Mahmud as vice president is not being able to serve the interests of the cricketers, given that the individuals are also influential directors of the current BCB committee. “You see CWAB being affiliated to the BCB, the association has to look into the interests of both the parties. There is no point fighting and not understanding the situation,” said Mahmud during his interaction with the media at the home of cricket in Mirpur Thursday.

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Mahmud blamed the cricketers for forcing the clubs, and eventually the board, to have the players’ draft for the 2018 Dhaka League. The former Bangladesh all-rounder claimed a few cricketers’ “abnormal” demand of remuneration is forcing the clubs to take help from the board to keep things under control. “A player who got Tk25 or 30 lakhs last season can always ask for a 10 or 15% raise. But it is never acceptable if those players are asking for payment hike of almost 150%. The players need to understand that the Dhaka League clubs do not have source of funds like a BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) T20 franchise and have to rely only on donations. The clubs had felt helpless due to which they asked intervention from the board, and thus the players’ draft took place. But if you notice, all the players in the draft were paid at least 15% more than what they had received last season. So we ensured they were treated right here,” Mahmud explained. Mahmud commenting on the players’ thoughts of the former cricketers in the BCB not being able to serve the current batch’s interest said, “You see me and Naimur are able to fight with the board only because we are in the board and attend all the meetings. How can someone fight if he is not in the board? However, I always welcome their decision to take charge. I have already told the cricketers that they are matured enough and that they can make their own decision, and fight for their rights, but this will send a wrong message to everyone. It will be wrong if they think we are the opposition, and won’t help them.” Mahmud opined that there is no point in the cricketers fighting with the board, rather the cricketers should always come to a final decision following discussion with the board. “If they do not have confidence of the current CWAB committee, there is always the option to dissolve this committee and form a new committee. I believe everything will take place as per the system,” said Mahmud.