The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has implemented a substantial hike in match fees for domestic cricketers, a move designed to ensure long-term financial security for players. President Tamim Iqbal announced the decision on Thursday, September 3, following a meeting of the board’s working committee at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
This policy shift comes as a direct response to concerns regarding player welfare, particularly after the board decided to postpone the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the nation’s premier franchise-based T20 tournament. The uncertainty surrounding the BPL had previously caused anxiety among players, leading to discussions between the Cricketers Welfare Association and the board.
Under the revised structure, men’s first-class match fees have risen to Tk 1.5 lakh, a significant increase from the previous Tk 70,000. Tamim noted that he had already raised the fee to Tk 1 lakh during his initial tenure as head of the BCB ad-hoc committee. Additionally, List A match fees have doubled to Tk 1 lakh, while domestic T20 match fees have climbed from Tk 40,000 to Tk 80,000.
The board also addressed women’s cricket, doubling the match fees across all formats. Four-day match fees for women have increased from Tk 20,000 to Tk 40,000, one-day fees have risen from Tk 15,000 to Tk 30,000, and T20 fees have moved from Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000.
Tamim emphasized that the objective is to provide a sustainable income model rather than a temporary fix. He estimated that a domestic cricketer playing a full season could now earn between Tk 35 lakh and Tk 40 lakh annually, averaging more than Tk 3 lakh per month. “To run their family, I don’t think they will need to worry anymore. It is a significant step,” he stated, while stressing that he now expects a higher level of professionalism from the players in return.
This expectation of professionalism includes strict adherence to fitness standards. Tamim warned that the board would no longer entertain requests for leniency regarding players who fail mandatory pre-season fitness tests. He noted that while the board is providing increased financial support, they will monitor player professionalism more rigorously than before.
Beyond immediate fee adjustments, the BCB is restructuring its financial model for domestic tournaments to reduce the board’s total burden. Plans are underway to market the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) four-day and one-day competitions, along with the National Cricket League (NCL) T20, as a single commercial package. This model would feature six privately owned teams competing over a combined 60-day schedule.
Despite these changes, the traditional eight-team NCL four-day championship will continue in its current format, maintaining its structure with divisional teams. This will be supplemented by a three-day NCL Second XI competition, ensuring that the developmental pipeline for domestic talent remains intact. The report also notes that with players set to receive Tk 1 lakh per match, up from Tk 50,000, the List A match fee has also been doubled. The report also notes that so, what we have all decided together is that, overall, in the BPL, you will see 50, 60, 65, 70 local cricketers play. The report also notes that in first-class, List A, T20, there are plus or minus 150 to 200 cricketers involved,” he said, but if you think about Bangladesh cricket. The report also notes that who were handling the issue with the board on their behalf, a section of cricketers did not shy away from showing their displeasure with the Cricketers Welfare Association high ups. The report also notes that “So, one or two proposals had come from the players’ side. The report also notes that their well-being, in the Dhaka League, maybe financially, what it was two or three years ago, perhaps that has dropped.
