Bangladesh’s tour of India next month is in doubt after skipper Shakib Al Hasan revealed that their players will boycott all upcoming cricketing activities if their 11-point demands are not met by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The Tigers are set to visit India for a three-match T20I and a two-match Test series, starting from November 3. However, the series is in doubt after at least 50 players from Bangladesh planned to go on a strike.
A boycott now will immediately impact the ongoing National Cricket League in Bangladesh. It could also affect the training camp for the series against India, and could even hamper the tour itself. The camp was expected to start this week with Daniel Vettori, Bangladesh’s spin consultant in tow. “We have to respect the local coaches, physios, trainers and groundsman. They get really a little amount of salary at the end of the month,” senior opener Tamim Iqbal said on behalf of the players at the press conference.
India, in turn, responded in a guarded manner calling in Bangladesh’s internal matter. “The BCCI will wait and watch the developments closely. This is an internal matter of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and until and unless we hear from them, there is no need for us to make any comments,” a senior BCCI functionary told PTI.
However, many feel that Bangladesh might go ahead with the series against India due to new president Sourav Ganguly’s ties with the BCB. “There is a Test match in Kolkata which will certainly generate a lot of interest among the Bangladesh fans keeping the local connect in mind. A lot of fans are expected to travel from Dhaka and it’s surrounding towns to watch the match, a first in Kolkata. I believe that they will pay heed to our president’s request if the situation demands,” another BCCI official said.
In case Bangladesh does forfeit the series, which is a part of the World Test Championship, India will be awarded 120 points.
Some of the demands included better infrastructure to domestic players and a hike in salary. “Match fee for the first-class cricket should be increased to one lakh (Bangladesh Taka), which is now 35 thousand only. At the same time, the salary of first-class cricketers also should be increased by 50 per cent,” said their most decorated player Shakib.
“A first-class cricketer gets only 1500 taka as the daily allowance. I don’t think this is enough for a cricketer in order to get a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, we are demanding to increase the travel allowance. We will be happy if BCB ensures the air tickets for travelling for the First-class cricketers around the country.”
The other demands are, a franchise-based model for the Bangladesh Premier League, the Dhaka Premier League should have open market transfers, hike in central contract salaries and inclusion of more players in the contract system.