The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to take legal action against BPL franchise Durbar Rajshahi for failing to meet payment deadlines for both overseas players and the team hotel.
BCB media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman said on Sunday that the board had given the franchise enough time and consideration and could no longer afford to keep doing so. The situation came to a head this weekend when the unpaid Rajshahi players made themselves unavailable for the match against Rangpur Riders in Mirpur.
BPL rules stipulate a team to field a minimum of two and a maximum of four overseas players in a playing XI. When it became clear that the Rajshahi foreigners wouldn't be playing on Sunday evening, the BPL governing council allowed the side to break the rule. It is the first time in the competition's history that a team has gone out without a single overseas player in the XI. It is being considered the BPL's lowest point this season, which has irked the BCB.
"We have to take legal action by any means now," Iftekhar said. "The money has to be paid. Otherwise, BPL's reputation will be ruined. The violation of contractual obligations like cheque dishonour and other issues will be addressed and we will file cases for all matters, as per the merit of the breaches. The board has given them enough chances. But they have crossed all limits. They were given a contract. There are breach of contract clauses. Until today, we didn't take any action but now, we will take all the legal actions against them."
Rajshahi captain Taskin Ahmed led the side to a surprising two-run win against table-toppers Rangpur. There was a smile on his face during the post-match press conference. A long and difficult day had come to a nice little end.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
