As many as 13 English
county cricketers played in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) have not been fully paid even in five weeks after the competition
was over, a British daily has said.
The Telegraph said the cricketers owed a combined £500,000 in unpaid wages for appearing in the competition.
When approached by bdnews24.com, BPL governing council president Gazi Ashraf Lipu said the report is "not completely true". "It is true that all the foreign players are not fully paid yet. But I hope the payment will be completed in a week."
Cricketers appearing in the BPL in February were supposed to receive money from $25,000-$75,000 based on their contracts. The Telegraph said none has been paid their full fees with a fraction having received up to 50 percent of the contract money.
"The contract was brokered by FICA (international players union) and set out the players should get 25 per cent before the start of the tournament, 50 per cent during it and 25 per cent at the end," Angus Porter, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association told The Telegraph.
"A handful have received 75 per cent, but most only 25. I don't know of anyone who has received the full payment," he added.
The reported quoted him as saying that the problem was concerned not only with the cricketers from England but also from all nations. He observed if the Bangladesh Cricket Board is seeking to build long-term relationships with players and want them to come back and play next year then the problem should be resolved immediately.
"I don't know what is going on behind the scenes but I do have a concern that this may be something more than a delay," added Porter.
The Telegraph said Porter thought the tournament's reputation was being compromised by not making timely payment to the cricketers, who were completely frustrated over the unexpected development.
He also hinted that the players may go ahead with legal action if the payment is not paid immediately.
"Events like this receive official backing from the ICC and there they should be made to conform to minimum standards in operational areas," Porter was further quoted as saying.
"We have seen correspondence from the BCB promising payments will be made but at this stage the players are just fed up and think they will not be paid anything."
When asked, Lipu said, "As far I know, some payments to British players have already been made. Letters have been issued to the franchises for paying up the outstanding wages in a week."
"There was a problem regarding bank permission in this regard. But the permission has been obtained and there is no problem anymore," he added.
The Telegraph said the cricketers owed a combined £500,000 in unpaid wages for appearing in the competition.
When approached by bdnews24.com, BPL governing council president Gazi Ashraf Lipu said the report is "not completely true". "It is true that all the foreign players are not fully paid yet. But I hope the payment will be completed in a week."
Cricketers appearing in the BPL in February were supposed to receive money from $25,000-$75,000 based on their contracts. The Telegraph said none has been paid their full fees with a fraction having received up to 50 percent of the contract money.
"The contract was brokered by FICA (international players union) and set out the players should get 25 per cent before the start of the tournament, 50 per cent during it and 25 per cent at the end," Angus Porter, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association told The Telegraph.
"A handful have received 75 per cent, but most only 25. I don't know of anyone who has received the full payment," he added.
The reported quoted him as saying that the problem was concerned not only with the cricketers from England but also from all nations. He observed if the Bangladesh Cricket Board is seeking to build long-term relationships with players and want them to come back and play next year then the problem should be resolved immediately.
"I don't know what is going on behind the scenes but I do have a concern that this may be something more than a delay," added Porter.
The Telegraph said Porter thought the tournament's reputation was being compromised by not making timely payment to the cricketers, who were completely frustrated over the unexpected development.
He also hinted that the players may go ahead with legal action if the payment is not paid immediately.
"Events like this receive official backing from the ICC and there they should be made to conform to minimum standards in operational areas," Porter was further quoted as saying.
"We have seen correspondence from the BCB promising payments will be made but at this stage the players are just fed up and think they will not be paid anything."
When asked, Lipu said, "As far I know, some payments to British players have already been made. Letters have been issued to the franchises for paying up the outstanding wages in a week."
"There was a problem regarding bank permission in this regard. But the permission has been obtained and there is no problem anymore," he added.
