With Bangladesh's cricket on the rise, the last thing one would expect is for its domestic structure to struggle to clear the basic payments of the players. The issue though is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh's cricket as the players' non-payment was an issue that embarrassed the board in the first season of the Bangladesh Premier League.

Now, with Eid barely two weeks away, a number of the players who took part in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier League (DPL), considered the most prestigious domestic competition, are extremely nervous as they are yet to receive payment.

As per the rules, 30 per cent of the players' payment had to be cleared before the start of the league, with 30 more before the start of the Super League. The remaining 40 per cent needs to be completed within a month after the end of the league.

Unfortunately, a large group of cricketers have not received anything since their first installment.

Last Sunday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon had given the clubs a 72-hour ultimatum to complete the required payments. However, that didn't seem to make any difference to most of the clubs. Whether the board will make the payments on behalf of the clubs, as Papon had promised last week, remains to be seen.

Of all the clubs, Cricket Coaching School's scenario seems to be the worst with their players just getting eight percent of their payments. It compelled their skipper Rajin Saleh to describe this season's DPL as the 'dirtiest season ever'.

“Each of our players got a lakh each and that's all. We don't know what's going to happen to the rest of the money. BCB officials did call me to ask about the situation, but we haven't seen any change after that.

“I have been playing in the DPL for 21 years and I haven't seen a dirtier season than this year. I don't get to play often in any of the other national leagues and I look forward to this one throughout the year.

“And after all that getting just one lakh taka is very embarrassing. Then what's the difference between the DPL and a 'khap' league? I can just go to Sylhet and play random leagues to earn money,” a frustrated Rajin told The Daily Star yesterday.

“The players in my team are all very young. They are 18 or 19 and they keep calling me every day to know whether we will get paid. I am so frustrated that I actually blocked my phone. What will I tell them? I myself don't know when I will get paid,” he added.

Kalabagan Cricket Academy skipper Mahmudul Hasan Limon shared a similar sentiment.

“We just got 30 per cent of the payment and we don't know what's going to happen to the remaining 70. The first installment was paid to us only after the seventh game as opposed to before the start of the league.  Our club hasn't given us any assurances. The thing is, apart from me and Irfan [Sukkur] none of the other players in my league have played in the Bangladesh Premier League.

“So it's obvious that they look forward to earning from the DPL. I think the player-by-choice system has a lot to do with this. Before we used to get 70 to 80 per cent of our payment at the start of the league, but now it has been divided to 30, 30 and 40 and that has created problems,” said Mahmudul.

The Brothers Union players are in a similar state. They have just received 30 per cent of their payments and Shahriar Nafees has said that the players in his team are nervous ahead of Eid.

“Our club has said that it is trying to gather funds and that the dues will be cleared soon. As players we do feel insecure about the situation because Eid is coming up and it will become difficult for many. We hope the payments are cleared as soon as possible,” said Nafees.

Victoria Sporting Club, a team that includes the likes of Mominul Haque and Nadif Chowdhury, is another club that hasn't cleared its payments.

On the contrary, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club paid its second installment to the players yesterday, thereby amounting to a total of 60 per cent. However, the players remain nervous about the remaining 40 per cent.

“Yes, we received the 30 per cent yesterday. But who knows when we will get the remaining money. It feels bad that we have to fight and cry just to get our basic salary. We have played under hot conditions this time and this is actually very painful,” said Shohag Gazi.

The BCB has said that it is trying its best clear the payments as soon as possible and that it is in touch with the respective clubs.