The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a doubling of match fees for domestic cricket matches. This decision comes in response to the cancellation of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), aiming to enhance players' earnings. BCB President Tamim Iqbal revealed the changes at a press conference held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
The match fee for first-class cricket has been increased to Tk 1.5 lakh from Tk 75,000. This follows a previous increase to Tk 1 lakh in May after Tamim took charge of the board's ad hoc committee. Additionally, match fees for one-day competitions, including the National Cricket League (NCL) and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), have been raised to Tk 1 lakh from Tk 50,000. The fee for T20 matches has also doubled to Tk 80,000 from Tk 40,000.
Tamim Iqbal stated that a cricketer could earn around Tk 30-35 lakh a year through domestic cricket, depending on the number of matches played. He emphasized that the increased financial benefits would come with higher expectations of professionalism from players, including meeting fitness requirements. The BCB president also indicated that the board could review the fees again after two years if its financial position improves.
Women's cricket match fees have also been doubled across all formats. Women cricketers will now receive Tk 40,000 for a first-class match, Tk 30,000 for a one-day game, and Tk 20,000 for a T20 match. The BCB is also planning to introduce four-day matches in the women's first-class format.
FAQs
Why did the BCB double the match fees?
The BCB doubled the match fees to improve players' earnings, especially after the cancellation of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which reduced players' earning opportunities.
What are the new match fees for different formats?
The new match fees are Tk 1.5 lakh for first-class cricket, Tk 1 lakh for one-day competitions, and Tk 80,000 for T20 matches.
How will this affect women's cricket?
Women's cricket match fees have also been doubled. Women cricketers will now receive Tk 40,000 for a first-class match, Tk 30,000 for a one-day game, and Tk 20,000 for a T20 match.
What are the expectations from players following the fee increase?
Players are expected to meet higher professionalism standards, including fitness requirements. There will be no exemptions for those who fail fitness tests.
Will the fees be reviewed in the future?
Yes, the BCB president indicated that the board could review the fees again after two years if its financial position and income improve.
