The BPL’s Durbar Rajshahi franchise is under scrutiny for failing to pay foreign players their salaries, leaving them stranded without return tickets. The crisis escalated with protests and financial disputes involving team management and local staff, including a bus driver withholding players’ kits. The BCB and National Sports Council are now investigating the matter, while team owner Shafiq Rahman has been detained for further questioning.
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is facing controversy as several foreign players from the Durbar Rajshahi franchise are reportedly stranded in the country due to unpaid wages. Players such as Mohammad Haris, Ryan Burl, Miguel Cummins, Mark Deyal, and Aftab Alam have not received their salaries or return tickets, raising significant issues concerning the franchise’s management. This non-payment issue escalated when players previously protested by canceling practice sessions until management assured them of payment.
The situation worsened when the local players vacated the team hotel, leaving foreign players without guidance or support from the management. Additionally, bus driver Mohammed Babul refused to return the players’ kit bags, citing unpaid dues owed to him. Babul expressed, “It’s a matter of shame and regret. If they had paid us, we would have given back the kit bags to the players,” highlighting the ripple effect of the financial mismanagement.
In response to the crisis, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has initiated damage-control efforts as the league is under their purview. Concurrently, the National Sports Council has established a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the delayed payments. Law enforcement has also become involved, leading to the detention of Durbar Rajshahi owner Shafiq Rahman for questioning regarding the payment issues. Rahman has reportedly committed to clearing the outstanding payments in staged installments on specified dates.
The preliminary context for this situation is the long-standing financial issues within the BPL, affecting players and associated staff. The current predicament involves serious allegations against the Durbar Rajshahi franchise regarding unpaid salaries. This financial instability not only jeopardizes the players involved but also tarnishes the league’s reputation, prompting action from the governing body, the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
In summary, the situation surrounding the BPL, particularly with the Durbar Rajshahi franchise, is dire. Foreign players are without payments or return arrangements, causing unrest and protests among the players. The involvement of the BCB and law enforcement underlines the severity of the payment crisis, necessitating immediate structural reforms to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
