The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is all over the news for several payment-related issues. Durbar Rajshahi is a franchise that competes in the game which was eliminated from the league on Saturday.

Several domestic players had checked out from the hotel after getting their payments but several foreign players are still waiting for their payments and tickets. Some players have not received 25% of their payments while others have not received anything at all.

They were also denied their daily allowance for the last 11 days and have been stuck in Dhaka. The payments should have been cleared 75% by 7 February, and the rest should have been cleared by March but that is not the case. The issue has been ongoing since last month when both domestic and foreign players cancelled their practice sessions in protest on 15 January.

Players Caught in BPL Payment Dispute

However the local players have left the hotel, and foreigners are still clueless about the payments as the authorities refuse to pick up their calls. They also could not access their kit bags because a bus driver withheld them until he received his long overdue payment.

The affected players include Momhammad Haris (Pakistan), Miguel Cummins and Mark Deyal (West Indies), Aftab Alam (Afghanistan) and Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe).

Shafiqur Rahman, the owner of Rajshahi vowed to clear the payments by 10 February though he had earlier claimed that it would be done by 2 February.

Ministry Steps In: Takes Charge to Resolve BPL Issue

The Bangladeshi government had taken him in for interrogation and allegedly warned him of the consequences if the dues were not cleared as soon as possible. They also formed a fact-finding committee to look into the matter.

The ministry issued a press statement on the issue, “He [Rahman] accepted his fault and promised to clear all dues of the team in three instalments of 25 per cent each on February 3, 7 and 10,” the release said. “He also assured that alongside the players, everyone involved with the team would also receive their payments in each instalment. Otherwise, whatever necessary legal actions will be taken against him.”

Zimbabwe’s Burl was the first one to get a ticket home and left on Monday, while the others are set to leave in the next two days.

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Indian Premier League

The richest T20 league in the world is the prestigious Indian Premier League. The lucrative tournament commenced in 2008 and has completed fifteen successful seasons. The competition is open to up to 10 teams. The players receive substantial compensation for representing their respective franchises. The IPL awards winners with a hefty USD 2,696,258 in prize money.

The Big Bash League

The Big Bash League is a franchise cricket league by Cricket Australia (CA). In Australia’s premier T20 tournament, 8 teams have competed for the championship. The Big Bash League champion team receives the third highest prize money globally at USD 450,000.

T20 Blast

The world’s oldest and first professional T20 competition is called the T20 Blast, also known as the “Vitality Blast”. It is a professional Twenty20 cricket league for the top counties in England and Wales. It was launched in 2003 and had completed 20 seasons since. This league has as many as eighteen clubs participating. A prize of USD 236,127 is awarded to the league winner.

Pakistan Super League

After the IPL, the PSL is the most followed T20 league globally. Seven editions of Pakistan’s very own franchise cricket tournament have been completed. Since the 2016 PSL, up to six teams have competed in the competition. The Pakistan Super League winner gets USD 505,000 in prize money – the second highest globally.

Caribbean Premier League

By bringing in the Caribbean flavour, several West Indies cricketers have contributed to the excellent quality of T20 leagues globally. Playing across multiple T20 leagues worldwide, West Indian players are especially popular in T20 cricket. Launched in 2013, the CPL has six participating teams. The winner is awarded USD 429,799.

Bangladesh Premier League

In 2012, the Bangladesh Cricket Board launched the Bangladesh Premier League as its own franchise T20 competition. It has become one of the country’s most lucrative T20 leagues since. The Bangladesh Premier League is one of Bangladesh’s three professional cricket tournaments. With up to seven clubs competing, the league champion receives USD 236,099 in prize money.

Lanka Premier League

The Lanka Premier League is the brand-new T20 tournament created by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). It debuted in 2020. The league has up to six teams. The Premier League has commenced and successfully completed three editions so far. The Sri Lanka Premier League event winner receives a USD 100,000 prize.

Afghanistan Premier League

Like other countries, the Afghanistan Cricket Board established the Afghan Premier League – a franchise-based, Twenty20 league. Held in the United Arab Emirates, the competition has up to five participating teams. The prize money for the winner is $300,000 USD – more than the prize pools of the T20 Blast, LPL and BPL.

SA20 League

Cricket South Africa (CSA) launched the SA20 League – a franchise-based Twenty20 competition. Fans flocked in large numbers to watch the entertainment-filled Twenty20 tournament. Six franchises representing locations across the country are vying for the title. Sunrisers Eastern Cape were the victors in the SA20 League’s debut season.

UAE International League T20

It is not well known that the United Arab Emirates has its own franchise-based Twenty20 league – the International League T20 tournament. There are up to six competing teams. Each squad can have up to nine overseas players, with the remaining spots for UAE’s local talent. The Gulf Giants emerged triumphant in the 2023 inaugural event.