Why Bangladesh’s Players Were Forced to Go On Strike

Why Bangladesh’s cricketers were forced to go on strike.

(Photo: The Quint)

It was a few months ago that Saleh Ahmed Shawon, a left-arm spinner who represented Bangladesh in the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup, was prohibited from entering the gymnasium of the National Cricket Academy in Mirpur because he wasn't representing any team operated by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) at the time. Not only Shawon but many other First-class cricketers are also not allowed to use the gymnasium during the off-season.

Senior Bangladeshi cricketers who had played for the national team, and others who have been playing for a long time, took this as a disrespectful act of the BCB towards the cricketers.

Earlier this week, top Bangladeshi cricketers went on an indefinite strike, putting forward a 11-point demand. In the first point, announced by seasoned domestic campaigner and former national all-rounder Naeem Islam, they urged BCB to respect the cricketers ahead of all.

The cricketers also asked for the immediate resignation of all current members of the committee of Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB). As per the cricketers’ complaint, this association worked more for the BCB than for the rights of the cricketers.

Naimur Rahman Durjoy, the captain of Bangladesh’s first Test, is the president of CWAB. At the same time, he is a powerful director of BCB. This dual-role often resulted in a conflict of interest which eventually prevented him from working towards ensuring the rights of cricketers.

However, along with expressing their demand, the top Bangladesh cricketers also announced that they would abstain from all cricket-related activities until their demands were met by the board, putting in doubt the team’s upcoming tour of India.

What Prompted The Strike?

A first-class cricketer in Bangladesh earns only 35,000 BDT (USD 420 approximately) as match fee, which is lower than a first-class cricketers’ match fee in most other Test-playing countries. At the same time, they get only 1,500 BDT (USD 18 approximately) as the daily allowance and 2,500 BDT (USD 30 approximately) as the travel allowance.

In comparison to their counterparts overseas or just in itself, the amount being given to the cricketers was believed to not be enough by the players. Thus, they asked the BCB to increase the amount of match fee and ensure air tickets for travel during first-class cricket events. However, with the BCB showing no interest in trying to work for the benefit of the players, cricketers were forced to call for a strike.

Club Cricket Troubles

The Dhaka Premier League is one of the biggest income sources of domestic cricketers in Bangladesh. However, with the BCB applying salary caps, it restricted the cricketers from earning more from the event.

Before the current board President took over the BCB on October 2012, there was an open transfer system in club cricket, which ensured every cricketer could opt for their own local club, following a mutual agreement. But the Nazmul Hasan-led board introduced a ‘players’ by choice’ system which prevented cricketers from asking for the desired remuneration in club cricket.

The same has happened in Bangladesh Premier League too, where the BCB creates a list of categories of players on their own and sets the remuneration without consulting the respective cricketers, which made the cricketers feel that they are not getting the remuneration what they actually deserve.

Cricketers having been urging the BCB to bring back the previous model but to no avail and it finally pushed the players too far.

What More Do Bangladeshi Cricketers Want?

Along with financial improvement, top Bangladeshi cricketers also asked for an increase in the number of players in the central contract. Currently, there are 12 cricketers in the central contract, who are divided into three different categories- A-plus, A and B.

Players of A-plus category get around 65,000 USD a year, which is grossly lower than the top-paying players of most other Test-playing nations. So Bangladesh cricketers asked the BCB to increase the salary of at least the players in central contract.

Tamim Iqbal, one of the top Bangladeshi cricketers, came up with a different demand. He asked BCB to increase the salary of local coaches, physios, groundsman and other local staffs who work for BCB.

What the BCB Said

Like they did before, BCB did not put much attention on the main problems. They rather replied saying the claims made by the players was an attempt ‘to destroy Bangladesh cricket’.

In a press conference following the day after the strike, BCB boss Namzul said it is nothing but an attempt to destroy the image of Bangladesh cricket to the world.

“We are shocked. They called the strike before even coming to us with their demands. It was unbelievable. I think they just want to destroy Bangladesh cricket. We have a tour of India next month. If we fail to do that, ICC will react strongly which will surely ruin our image as a cricket nation. We know who are doing this. You also will come to know who are behind it withing a few days,” Nazmul told the media and hinted the problem is set to last longer now.