Tamim criticizes BPL over unpaid wages

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is no longer the powerhouse it once was. 

Once ranked just behind the Indian Premier League (IPL) as one of the top cricket leagues, the BPL is now losing its charm, especially for top players.

New cricket leagues are gaining attention around the world, and foreign cricketers are gradually losing interest in BPL, largely due to its frequent issues and irregularities.

Before the start of the current BPL season, South African cricketer Imran Tahir voiced his frustration, claiming that Rangpur Riders still hadn’t paid him what they owed. 

The newly appointed BCB President, Faruk Ahmed, had assured fans that this season would be different and that they could expect positive changes, giving hope for a better, more organized BPL.

But so far, things haven‍‍`t improved much. Rajshahi‍‍`s cricketers have been facing delays in receiving their wages, with several of their checks bouncing. 

The situation got so bad that players canceled practice sessions, and on one occasion, foreign players refused to take part in a match. 

Yesterday, Dhaka-based players were even asked to go home as the situation showed no signs of improving.

In another disturbing event, the owner of the Chittagong Kings claimed he didn’t pay a local player simply because he wasn’t satisfied with his performance. 

It’s worth noting that the same ownership group, SQ Sports, was banned from the BPL back in 2013 due to issues of non-payment and even match-fixing allegations. 

Now, this same group is back in charge of a franchise. 

There have also been reports that this franchise hasn’t paid wages to two foreign players and even allowed a player who wasn’t part of the official draft to train with the team.

After Fortune Barishal’s match yesterday, captain Tamim Iqbal was asked about the recurring ownership and payment issues in the BPL. 

Tamim stressed the importance of being cautious when selecting franchise owners, stating, 

"I want the BPL to do really well and earn recognition. At one point, we were progressing very quickly. When choosing franchise owners, more care is needed about who gets a team and who doesn’t. If a team cannot pay its players, that’s a big problem.In the past, we’ve seen instances where 50 percent of players’ wages were held back, and after some bargaining, they ended up leaving with just 25 percent. The players aren’t to blame—they perform in 16 matches. The fault lies with the franchise and the BCB. Why should players have to negotiate for their own wages?"

Frustrated by the recurring issues, despite similar problems in the past, Tamim added, 

"These problems still haven’t been fixed. I hope they’ll work on solving this and prevent it from happening again. This doesn’t just damage the BPL’s reputation—it sends a bad message about the country too. Many foreign cricketers want to come here, but these issues make it difficult. Picking the right franchise owners is crucial."

When asked another question, Tamim emphasized his point once again, urging the BCB to be more cautious when selecting owners. 

"I didn’t tell the BCB to act more professionally. I said they should be more careful when picking franchise owners," he concluded.

The situation has drawn attention to the ongoing management issues in the BPL and raised concerns about how these problems could further tarnish the league’s reputation globally.