Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim termed the difference of remuneration between local and overseas players in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 disappointing.
Captain of BBPL side Khulna Tigers, Mushfiq claimed the regular Bangladesh national players are getting way less compared to the mercenary overseas cricketers, who play only the franchise leagues.
Local A+ category cricketers in the BBPL are entailed Tk 5 million before tax, while the overseas A+ category players are set to receive Tk 8.4 million before tax.
The A category local cricketers are set to pocket Tk 2.5 million for the season, while the overseas players in the same category have been set fees of Tk 5.6 million.
“If you see our players, Tamim [Iqbal] or Shakib [al Hasan] and others, we perform whole year consistently, but some players who are playing just T20 format whole year, they are getting more wages. It feels dissatisfying,” said Mushfiq during Khulna’s practice session at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Wednesday.
“It is a bit discrediting for us. If you see the other leagues, their local players are the highest paid players. Maybe our performance is not upto that mark and so, we will try to give our best performance,” added Mushfiq, who will lead Khulna.
The former Bangladesh captain hoped the difference will be minimized in the next BPL where the franchises are expected to make a comeback.
Following disputes with the franchises over regulations of the tournament, the Bangladesh Cricket Board had remodeled the tournament for this season, and decided to manage the tournament on their own.
The 2019-20 edition is being considered as a special edition to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We never get the expected wages and tried to notify them [the board] about it [when the cricketers had gone on strike]. They gave us hope. Maybe this BPL was arranged in a hurry, and luckily, it is happening,” said the 32-year old Mushfiq.
Khulna will start their BBPL campaign against Chattogram Challengers in Thursday's second game at the Sher-e-Bangla.