BCB plans legal action against BPL team over payment row

The issue reaches breaking point as unpaid players refuse to play

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to take legal action against BPL team Durbar Rajshahi for failing to pay their overseas players and team hotel bills. According to Iftekhar Rahman, chairman of the BCB media committee, the board had given the franchise several chances to resolve the matter but has now run out of patience.

The issue reached a breaking point when unpaid overseas players refused to play in Sunday's match against Rangpur Riders. This forced Rajshahi to field an XI made up entirely of local players, breaking BPL rules that require at least two overseas players in the playing XI.

The BPL governing council allowed the rule to be bent, marking the first time in the tournament's history that a team played without any foreign players.

"We have to take legal action by any means now," said Iftekhar. "The money has to be paid. Otherwise, BPL's reputation will be ruined. We have been patient, but they have crossed all limits. We will file cases for breach of contract and other violations."

Despite the challenges, Rajshahi managed a surprising two-run win over table-toppers Rangpur. Captain Taskin Ahmed called it a "new experience" and shared the struggles the team faced on match day.

"We had to change hotels on the morning of the game due to booking issues," Taskin said. "Then, just two hours before heading to the stadium, we were told the foreign players wouldn't play. The board asked us locals to go ahead and play, and we did our best to focus on the game."

Taskin also revealed that local players received some payments on the same day, though there are concerns about whether the cheques will clear.

"Everyone expects to play in a peaceful environment," he added. "But we're trying to stay positive and perform despite these issues."

Six foreign players, including Pakistan's Mohammad Haris and Aftab Alam, have refused to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) citing unpaid dues.

According to Bangladeshi media, the foreign players from BPL team Durbar Rajshahi boycotted matches over the non-payment of their salaries. This marks the second instance of such a dispute in the ongoing BPL season.

The players refusing to participate include Lahiru, McCauley Cummins, Mark Doyle, and Ryan Burl, in addition to the Pakistani players.

Due to the unavailability of foreign players, Durbar Rajshahi fielded an all-local batting lineup in their match against Rangpur Riders. All local players were included in the playing XI to compensate for the absence of the foreign stars.