In a dramatic turn of events, the players of Durbar Rajshahi, a team in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), decided to boycott their practice session on January 15 due to ongoing issues with non-payment of dues. The decision to halt practice was made by the local players, who expressed frustration over delayed payments, with several players revealing that they had not received their full payments from the franchise.
The incident took place in Chattogram, where the team had gathered for practice. While overseas players had received 25% of their payments following the team’s fourth match on January 6, the local players were left unpaid. This discrepancy in payment was the primary reason behind the players’ collective decision to boycott the session. The boycott sent shockwaves through the team, with players making it clear that they would not resume training until their concerns about unpaid fees were addressed.
Despite the protest, the following day, the players agreed to resume practice, although notable absentee Taskin Ahmed reportedly skipped the session due to workload management. Taskin’s absence was unrelated to the financial issues and had been prearranged by the team’s management.
The ongoing financial dispute prompted intervention from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with BCB president Faruque Ahmed stepping in to mediate between the team’s officials, captain Anamul Haque, and the protesting players. The BCB’s involvement was crucial in resolving the matter and ensuring that practice sessions continued without further disruption.
In response to the boycott, Jayed Ahmed, who handles operations for Durbar Rajshahi, issued a public apology on behalf of the franchise. He acknowledged the delay in payments and clarified that the cancelled practice session was not directly related to financial disputes. According to Jayed, some players had decided to take a break after arriving in Chattogram, which led to the misunderstanding. He assured that the franchise was committed to resolving the payment issue as quickly as possible.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns within the BPL regarding payment delays and financial management, with players’ trust in their franchises coming under scrutiny. The situation with Durbar Rajshahi has drawn attention to the importance of timely payments to ensure the smooth functioning of professional cricket in the region. With the BCB’s involvement, it is hoped that such issues will be resolved more effectively in the future, allowing players to focus on their performance rather than off-field financial concerns.
