Mushfiqur expresses dissatisfaction over payment disparity

Dhaka — The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) might be in a happy mood as they are hosting the new season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at their own, but former national skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was not happy over the payment disparity in the BPL T20 league.

Mushfiqur will get 50 lakh BDT as a player of A plus-category. But the foreign players on the same category will get BDT 84 lakh in this season of BPL. Mushfiqur said this is embarrassing for the local players.

“If you see the players like Tamim (Iqbal), Shakib (Al Hasan)- we play only one T20 league in a year and get less remuneration than the foreign cricketers. It is a discredit for Bangladesh cricket,” Mushfiqur told the media during a press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Like the A-plus category, the players from other categories also get less payment than their foreign teammates. Mushfiqur said this disparity should not continue in future.

The wicketkeeper-batsman also expressed his discontent about categorising the players without any sorts of discussion. The veteran batsman believes, the players who perform better over the years deserve a better grade in BPL draft.

“Look at the players like Taijul Islam or Shaiful Islam, they were outstanding during the last year. But in players’ draft, they are not in the A-plus or in a higher category. I think the authority should see these things,” Mushfiqur added.

Mushfiqur is set to lead Khulna Tigers in the ongoing BPL. The Khulna Tigers will take to the field for the first time in the BPL on Thursday against Chattogram Challengers, who won the event opener against Sylhet Thunder by five wickets.UNB