There are payment issues with some players in the BPL: Shahid Afridi

The issue of player payments in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was brought up at the end of the Comilla Victorians – Sylhet Super Stars game yesterday. Shahid Afridi, who plays and leads the Sylhet Superstars, indicated that some players told him about their dues. However, Comilla’s Mashrafe Mortaza said that all payments to his team-mates were made on time.

Shahid Afridi said that the BPL’s policy, like the 2013 edition, is to clear 50% of all player payments before the tournament begins, 25% during the tournament, and the rest within one month of the tournament’s final, which in this case will be January 15, 2016. Mashrafe said that the Comilla franchise had made 75% of the player payments before the due date of December 11.

“All members of our team were paid 75% of the money,” Mashrafe said. “They were supposed to pay us by December 11, they paid us last night. As far as I know, the foreign players have been paid in full though there might be one or two issues. We have no complaints about payment since we got it last night.”

Afridi without revealing names of the players said that some of the guys had mentioned to him about non-receipt of payments. He also said that if the payment issues were cleared, the tournament would attract more players.

“At the moment some of the other players mentioned they didn’t get paid yet,” Afridi said. “The cricket board this time took a responsibility and I must give credit to the BPL and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. They organized this tournament well, and I personally enjoyed it. If they sorted out the problems with the guys, money-wise, hopefully, each and every player will come from anywhere and enjoy the BPL.”