Dhaka, February 2, 2025: Overseas players of Durbar Rajshahi are stranded in a Dhaka hotel due to ongoing payment issues with the franchise. The players, awaiting tickets for their return, have been unable to contact the team’s management or owner for updates. As of the latest report, they remain stuck in the capital.
Rajshahi was eliminated from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Saturday after Khulna Tigers defeated Dhaka Capitals. Players Mohammad Haris (Pakistan), Aftab Alam (Afghanistan), Mark Deyal (West Indies), Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe), and Miguel Cummins (West Indies) are still awaiting their payments. While some players have received partial payments (25%), others haven’t been compensated at all, and none have received their daily allowances for the past 11 days.
Financial problems have plagued the franchise throughout the tournament. Local players also did not receive their pre-tournament payments, leading to protests, including a training session boycott. While Burl and Haris eventually made themselves available to play, helping the team stay in playoff contention, they were ultimately eliminated on net run rate.
The franchise’s financial troubles extended to hotel payments. In Chattogram, Rajshahi owner Shafique Rahman faced problems with the hotel after failing to settle bills, which led to security personnel outside his room and the seizure of his car. When the team returned to Dhaka, they were forced to check out of a hotel over similar issues.
Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, member-secretary of the BPL governing council, admitted that the BCB had not properly vetted Rajshahi before their inclusion in the league, leading to current difficulties.
On Saturday, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud warned Rahman of legal action if the payments were not cleared. Mahmud confirmed that a fact-finding committee would investigate how Rajshahi was allowed to join the BPL.
