BD cricketers get 30% pay hike after exodus to ICL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised salaries of players and staff of national cricket team by 30 percent amid concerns more players could ditch their contracts to join the more lucrative Indian Cricket League (ICL), chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee said on Thursday. The decision was taken at a marathon meeting of directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last night at its Mirpur headquarters. The issue of the pay rise was long overdue as the last payroll expired in November last year. The BCB has decided to increase the salaries to local staff of the national team's management as well as contracted national cricketers, he said. ''We have decided to increase their remuneration including winning bonus, performance bonus, match fees and other allowances proportionately'' said Enayet Hossain, chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee. The BCB was under pressure to raise pay after seven cricketers unilaterally terminated their contracts and joined seven others to play in the ICL. The BCB has 13 contracted cricketers, but Enayet said they would soon increase that number and bring 'A team' players under contract too. In another major move, the BCB will purchase land suitable for cricket stadiums across the country on a priority basis. SNM/ Mar 19