Bangladesh cricketers call strike, India tour under threat: Details here
Cricketers from Bangladesh have called a strike as they would not be participating in any cricketing activities unless their demands are met by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). As of now, they would not be participating in the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL), along with the training camp for the India tour, while the tour itself is under the cloud now. Here're further details.
As per a report by Cricbuzz, the players have released a list that involves 11 demands, which include: Resignation of the current president and secretary of Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh. No salary cap in DPL. BPL to follow the franchise-based model. Better remuneration for First-Class matches. Increase in the number of players in central contract. Better remuneration for local coaches, physios, and trainers.
Following are some of the other demands by the cricketers: They should have more domestic tournaments. A proper calendar for domestic cricket, to prepare well. Uniformity in the timing of payments for players, especially in the BPL as well as the DPL. Players should be allowed to participate in more than two overseas T20 leagues.
"We just came to know about it. We will discuss it in the board and try to resolve it as soon as possible. I don't think it is anything like revolt. They are yet to tell us anything formally," said BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury.
The announcement was made in a press conference, organized by top players, in the form of Test and T20I captain Shakib Al Hasan, along with Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim. The conference was held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Dhaka, which also had a big group of other First-Class cricketers standing by them. They listed down their demands in the press conference.
During the conference, Shakib said that while they did not involve the U-19 players, as they are preparing for the World Cup, he speaks for all Bangladesh cricketers. "Everybody else is here and we know everybody is with us. We are not going to involve in cricket unless our demand is fulfilled we are not coming back to cricket,'' said Shakib.
Earlier in a report, we had mentioned that Shakib was unhappy with the BCB's move to implement new rules in the BPL. He had reckoned that BPL should be played in the old franchise-based model. He also demanded that the BCB should primarily focus on setting up proper training facilities. He was also vocal about the current First-Class payment model, which is insufficient.
However, the biggest headache for the BCB would be the upcoming tour of India, as players are not willing to participate in it. The series is scheduled to get underway from November 3 with a three-match T20I series, followed by a two-Test series, from November 14. Least to say, failure to tour India would result in a huge financial loss for the BCB.
