The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise Durbar Rajshahi is embroiled in controversy, with its owners facing severe criticism for failing to clear the dues of players and staff. The situation escalated further on Sunday when the team’s bus driver, Mohammad Babul, took matters into his own hands. In a dramatic turn of events, Babul locked the players’ kits inside the team bus and refused to return them until his pending wages were paid.
Expressing his frustration, Babul told reporters outside the team hotel that it was both regretful and shameful that they had not been paid on time. He stated that if the dues were cleared, he would immediately release the kit bags, but until then, he had no intention of backing down. “Till now, I have remained silent, but I can’t anymore. If they clear our payment, we will leave,” he said. He also confirmed that both local and foreign players’ kit bags remained inside the bus, as a significant portion of their remuneration was still unpaid.
According to a report, a senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official revealed that several foreign players and staff members of Durbar Rajshahi have yet to receive their payments. Among those still awaiting their dues are Mohammad Haris from Pakistan, Aftab Alam from Afghanistan, Ryan Burl from Zimbabwe, and West Indies cricketers Miguel Cummins and Mark Deyal, all of whom represented Rajshahi in this season’s BPL.
The financial crisis has already had a major impact on the team, with players boycotting practice sessions in protest. Some overseas players have even chosen to make themselves unavailable for group-phase matches, further complicating the team’s situation.
A BCB official confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the franchise’s ownership in an attempt to resolve the issue. “I just spoke with Ryan Burl and other players, and they confirmed that their payments are still pending,” the official said. Despite repeated assurances from Rajshahi’s owner, the payments remain unsettled. Just a day ago, Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Mahmud, met with the franchise owner and urged him to resolve the issue at the earliest. While the owner reportedly agreed, the situation remains unresolved, leaving players and staff in a state of uncertainty.
And they dream of competing with the IPL….
