BPL: Durbar Rajshahi set to clear dues by February 10
What's the story
Shafiqur Rahman, the owner of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team Durbar Rajshahi, has promised to clear all dues of players by February 10.
As per an ESPNcricinfo report, the sports ministry confirmed this promise in an official statement on Monday.
Rahman had earlier stated that the dues would be cleared by the first week of February.
Notably, Durbar Rajshahi's international cricketers have been stuck in a Dhaka hotel as the franchise failed to meet payment deadlines.
Intervention
Government intervenes in BPL payment crisis
It is understood that the government advisor on sports and youth affairs, Asif Mahmud, has intervened in the matter. He spoke to Rahman and warned him of consequences if the dues remain unpaid.
Taking cognizance of this unusual issue in a tournament organized by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the government has formed a committee in order to probe this non-payment issue.
Payment plan
Rahman's plan to settle dues in installments
Rahman has admitted his fault and promised to clear all dues in three installments of 25% each, on February 3, 7, and 10.
He also promised that not just the players but everyone connected to the team would get their dues in every installment.
The sports ministry threatened to take legal action against him if he doesn't stick to his word.
Stranded players
Unpaid players stranded in Dhaka hotel
Several foreign players of the Durbar Rajshahi team were stranded in a Dhaka hotel as the franchise kept missing payment deadlines.
These players include Mohammad Haris (Pakistan), Aftab Alam (Afghanistan), Mark Deyal (West Indies), Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe), and Miguel Cummins (West Indies).
While some of these players had received 25% of their payments, others weren't paid at all.
Financial struggles
Rajshahi's financial woes and player protests
Notably, the Durbar Rajshahi franchise has been marred by financial woes since the start of BPL 2025.
Anamul Haque first raised concerns that local players hadn't been paid a single penny before the tournament started - unlike the norm of paying 25% in advance.
In protest, they skipped a training session in Chattogram last month, while foreign players refused to play a match.