Bangladesh Cricket Board plans to introduce a BPL like auction for the Dhaka Premier Cricket League in an effort to systemise the players transfer for the next season. In the new system, all the players will be categorised under A+, A, B and C rankings and each category will have a ceiling of its own. The plan, however, is still to be endorsed by the executive committee of the BCB and no directors of the ad-hoc committee chose to comment on the matter. To date, the premier league clubs have gone through the process of contacting the players on their own and completing formalities by signing papers by the BCB declared transfer dates. The players enjoyed complete freedom in bargaining their worth with the clubs and usually, the agreed amount remained undisclosed. However, the new system may curb the freedom of the players and the clubs will be the beneficiary. The categories also can deprive many players of their due rights and rising cricketers may also be hampered. Furthermore, the apprehension of not being paid in full will haunt the players again, as the BPL experience was not a pleasing affair for many players. Under the current system, the players receive the bulk of their payment in one package, with the remaining portion distributed gradually. Moreover, there is the possibility of many cricketers remaining unsold as the clubs may not gather a large squad. The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh has already expressed disappointment over the new plan and will talk to the national cricketers about possible courses of action when the latter return from Zimbabwe. Currently the number of BCB affiliated cricketers is 181 and there is also a national pool. As per the practice, the recruitment of the pool players are also restricted. The clubs are not entitled to recruit as many players as they desire. The new system will also arrive as a blow to the players as they will have to pay 10 percent taxes and the clubs will also try to keep the auction prices as low as possible as they also will have to show the source of their income. The clubs will also reap the benefit of not spending a huge amount of money in the initial part of the season.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
