As many as four Dhaka Premier Division League Clubs have been reported of not making payments to their players for the season this year that got suspended following the first round of matches. Bangladesh Cricket Board and Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis suspended the tournaments on March 16 due to rising concern of coronavirus cases in the country.
Players of Brothers Union, Old DOHS, Shinepukur Sports Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have been involved allegedly with non-payments. Dhaka League, the premier 50-over cricket tournament of the country, had returned to its old of form players’ transfers and shelved the controversial players’ by choice system.With the traditional form of players’ signing taking place, majority of the players had taken between 30 to 40 percent of their respective salaries ahead of the season. However, the case is not the same with Brothers, Old DOHS, Shinepukur and Sheikh Jamal. As per the unofficial payment structure of tradition players’ transfer salaries to the players are made in three parts – first ahead of the season, another in between the season and the last after the conclusion of the tournament.
The non-payment has put many of the cricketers of these four clubs in trouble amid the country's unofficial lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic. For many cricketers Dhaka League is the major source of income for their livelihoods.
“As far as I know, only Junaid Siddique had got some payment before the players’ transfer ahead of the season. No one else got paid, said Brothers Union veteran cricketer Tushar Imran.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi captain Nurul Hasan made similar claim of non-payments.
“None of our cricketers have been paid yet. We were told that a part of the payment will be made following the start of the season. But the league got suspended following one game and we did not receive any payments,” said Nurul to the media on Sunday.
“We have been told by the club that the payments will be made once the tournament resumes. But that is uncertain. We do not know when the league will start again and we have Eid approaching. Most of our cricketers are struggling financially and no one knows how to deal with it,” the wicket-keeper batsman added.
Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) member secretary Ali Hossain informed they have been informed of the issue and needed action is on course.
“I discussed about it with our CCDM chairman [Kazi Inam Ahmed]. So far we spoke to Brothers Union Club and as per our finding few of their players have been paid. We are yet to find out the situation with the three other clubs [Old DOHS, Shinepukur, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi]. We will soon find out the details and will ask the board CEO [Nizamuddin Chowdhury] to solve this issue,” Ali Hossain informed.
Crickets Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) secretary Debabrata Paul informed the association has been in communication with the board and that a letter is to be served by the board to the clubs on the issue.
“I have been in communication with CCDM chairman Inam bhai and others from the board over the issue. I have been informed that the board was in understanding with the clubs that 50 percent or around of the salary is to be cleared ahead of the tournament. The board is supposed to address the clubs on the issue soon,” informed Debabrata.
