Durbar Rajshahi’s Foreign Players Stuck In Dhaka Due To Payment Problems

The Durbar Rajshahi franchise of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is facing a major financial scandal. The team’s overseas players are effectively stranded in Dhaka after the franchise failed to meet multiple payment deadlines. With no response from the team owner or management, the players are stuck in their hotel, awaiting their due payments and flight tickets back home.

The Payment Crisis

From the very start of the BPL season, Rajshahi has been plagued with financial instability. Several players, including Mohammad Haris (Pakistan), Aftab Alam (Afghanistan), Mark Deyal (West Indies), Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe), and Miguel Cummins (West Indies), have yet to receive their full payments. Some have been given only 25% of their dues, while others have received nothing at all. Additionally, the players have not been provided their daily allowances for the past 11 days.

Overseas Players Affected

The unpaid overseas players have been key contributors to Rajshahi’s performance this season. Despite the financial setbacks, some players, including Ryan Burl and Mohammad Haris, continued playing in crucial matches to keep the team in playoff contention. Their commitment, however, has not been reciprocated by the franchise management.

Financial Problems throughout the tournament

Financial troubles were evident before the tournament even started. The local players did not receive the standard 25% advance payment, leading to a training boycott in Chattogram last month. The overseas players also protested by boycotting a match, though some later returned to the field in an attempt to secure a playoff spot for the team.

Rajshahi’s fate was sealed when Khulna Tigers defeated Dhaka Capitals, eliminating them from playoff contention. Despite the efforts of their overseas players, the team failed to progress due to a lower net run rate.

Hotel Payment Scandal and Team Owner’s Troubles

Financial mismanagement extended beyond player payments. Team owner Shafique Rahman found himself in hot water with the hotel in Chattogram after failing to pay on time. Photos of security personnel stationed outside his room and the hotel seizing his car went viral. Similar issues followed the team to Dhaka, where they were forced to check out of another hotel due to unpaid bills.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) admitted they failed to conduct thorough background checks on Rajshahi’s franchise owners. Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, a member of the BPL governing council, acknowledged their mistake, stating that they did not verify the financial strength and experience of the franchise before bringing them on board.

Government Intervention and Future Actions

Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Mahmud, has intervened, warning owner Shafique Rahman of legal consequences. Mahmud made it clear that failure to pay the players would result in immediate legal action, with a fact-finding committee investigating how the franchise was approved in the first place.

Mahmud said, “I spoke to the Rajshahi owner, who assured us that he will clear the payments. I have told him clearly that if he fails to do so, we will take legal steps. No more discussions. Our fact-finding committee will be looking into how this team came to be.”

The controversy has cast a shadow over the credibility of the BPL. Questions are being raised about the league’s ability to manage franchises and protect players’ interests. If such financial irregularities continue, it could deter international players from participating in future editions of the tournament.

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