Sports Desk:

Before the tournament began, it was reported that none of the franchises had paid the required fifty percent of player salaries in advance, as per tournament bylaws.

Rajshahi players had also remarked during press events that they were hopeful the matter would be resolved in the coming days. But, according to sources close to the team, local players’ cheques bounced recently, and the players chose not to attend yesterday’s practice session scheduled for 10 am at M. A. Aziz Stadium.

“Some payments were made, and the time by which local players were to receive payments has been pushed back by two days. Cheques did not bounce, or maybe one or two did. The owner is out of the country, and he was in Bangkok at that time, so there was an issue as he could not pick up the call,” a team management source said under conditions of anonymity.

BPL governing council member secretary and BCB director Najmul Abedeen Fahim could not be reached when contacted by .

There was no guarantee money paid by the franchises before the start of the tournament. Guarantee money ensures that players receive due payments from the BCB in case the franchises cannot pay them their dues.

Rajshahi are set to play Sylhet Strikers on Friday, and there are concerns that players would want to boycott the game.

“Yes, an emergency meeting was called to discuss the overall issue of players’ payment and how to pay the due payments,” a BCB source informed on the matter, adding that the majority of the clubs have not paid the players.

It could be surmised that the payments would have to come from the board. Asked whether there was a real possibility, a BCB source confirmed under conditions of anonymity that “the majority of the clubs haven’t paid, and it’s one hundred per cent possible BCB will have to pay from their own coffers.”

With payment crisis looming over, the Chattogram phase opens Thursday with Dhaka Capitals facing Fortune Barishal. Barishal coach Mizanur Rahman remains optimistic despite the departure of key players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kyle Mayers, stating the team are “in good position”. Dhaka, languishing at the bottom of the table, must secure strong results in their remaining five matches to keep playoff hopes alive.

In the second game, Chittagong Kings will face Khulna Tigers, with both teams eager to make an impact as the tournament heats up.