TDS Desk:

Leading cricketers of the country urged Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed to host the upcoming domestic tournaments as per schedule.

The cricketers led by former captain Tamim Iqbal met the BCB boss and expressed their concern at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

It was learnt that the cricketers informed Faruque that they are ready to take pay cut and take part in the BPL considering the socio economic condition of the country.

The cricketers are spending sleepless nights as many BPL teams are not ready to continue following the change in power in the country that saw the end of Awami League regime on the back of huge student protest.

Four-time champions Comilla Victorians, known to be a big spender in the tournament, asked the board not to consider them in the next edition of BPL. It has been the case with some other teams as well while some of the teams are not ready to spend as much as they used to earlier.

Furthermore, it was learnt that apart from Rangpur Riders all the other teams of the tournament yet not completed full payment of their cricketers.

They asked the BCB boss to host the BPL on time and they are ready to reduce their price as they know the situation of the country.

Players are also worried about DPL, country’s traditional List A tournament, apart from BPL as they are not sure whether the premier league will take place as per schedule and more so whether they can charge the same amount of money like they did earlier.

Tamim, who accompanied the national cricketers despite not playing international cricket for more than a year, was vocal in the meeting.

BCB president Faruque admitted regarding the development on Thursday while added that cricketers were worried about their future

“Everyone knows the condition of the country and they (cricketers) are not coming from outside this country,” said Faruque.

“Everyone is worried regarding their game and so they have spoken with me regarding BPL( Bangladesh Premier League) and Dhaka Premier League,” he said adding that BCCI president Jay Shaw assured him of security in the upcoming tour of India.