The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced a doubling of match fees for all domestic cricket formats, fulfilling a key promise made to the nation’s cricketers. BCB President Tamim Iqbal confirmed the decision during a press conference held in Mirpur today. This adjustment is designed to provide financial stability for players, with estimates suggesting that a domestic cricketer could now earn between 30 and 35 lakh taka annually.
The board’s decision follows discussions with the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (COAB) and serves as a measure to mitigate income uncertainty following the board’s decision to discontinue the current BPL structure. Under the revised pay scale, first-class match fees for men have been increased from 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh taka. List A (one-day) match fees have been raised from 50,000 to 1 lakh taka, while T20 match fees have doubled from 40,000 to 80,000 taka. These increases build upon previous adjustments made by Tamim Iqbal last May, when he first took charge as the head of the ad-hoc committee.
The board has also prioritized gender equality in its new financial structure, significantly increasing match fees and facilities for female cricketers. For women’s cricket, first-class match fees have been raised from 20,000 to 40,000 taka, while one-day match fees have increased from 20,000 to 30,000 taka. Additionally, T20 match fees for women have risen from 10,000 to 20,000 taka. To further support the development of the women’s game, the board has decided to transition first-class matches from three-day to four-day formats to better align with Test standards.
Beyond the financial incentives, President Tamim Iqbal emphasized that the board expects the highest level of professionalism from all players. He issued a stern warning regarding fitness standards, stating that the era of requesting exemptions without passing mandatory fitness tests is over and that no leniency will be granted in this regard. Tamim noted that the board expects players to reciprocate the board’s investment with dedication on the field.
To fill the void left by the absence of the BPL, the BCB is planning to launch a new tournament titled ‘Bangladesh First.’ This competition will feature six franchise-based teams rather than divisional sides, with the naming rights held by the respective purchasing organizations. Looking ahead, the BCB president indicated that if the board’s financial capacity continues to grow, these match fees may be reviewed or further increased in two years’ time.
