Durbar Rajshahi players skip practice (Source:@usama_mewati948,x.com)
In a significant development, one of the most popular franchise of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Durbar Rajshahi has issued a public apology for the delayed payment of fees to its players. The franchise have pledged to clear 50% of the dues by January 16. This announcement comes after local players protested against unpaid dues, leading to the cancellation of training sessions.
Durbar Rajshahi Players Skip Practice Session
While the foreign players and coaching staff have received 25% of their pay, local players have faced prolonged delays, including irregularities in their daily allowances. The BPL governing council mandates franchises to pay 50% of player fees before the tournament, 25% during the tournament, and the remaining 25% post-tournament.
The BCB President, Faruque Ahmed, intervened and held discussions with Durbar Rajshahi officials to address the issue. Jayed Ahmed, the operation in-charge of the franchise, reassured players that payments would be made by January 16.
"We are committed from the team management to all cricketers that we will pay them by January 16 and the not practicing is not related with it. When we came here from Chattogram some cricketers got down in Dhaka to have rest and we didn't get the whole team in Chattogram. Some of them came last night while others came today," Jayed Ahmed, operation in-charge of the franchise was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
"One or two cricketers are yet to arrive. The cricketers wanted rest to the team management gave them rest. They will get the payment by January 16 and there is no doubt about it," he further added.
Ahmed also clarified that some players had taken a break during the Chattogram phase and were yet to return, leading to incomplete training squads. He confirmed that practice sessions would resume on Thursday at the M A Aziz Stadium in Chattogram at 10 am, ahead of their match against Sylhet Strikers on January 17.