The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has called for the implementation of “basic global protections” to ensure players receive timely payments from franchise leagues, as late and non-payment issues persist worldwide.
Delayed payments have become a recurring issue, particularly in less-established franchise leagues. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently initiated legal action against a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise for failing to compensate overseas players, while similar problems have emerged in tournaments like the Abu Dhabi T10 and Cayman Max60.
The WCA’s league monitoring system, which tracks 53 men’s and women’s franchise leagues—including several without ICC approval—has flagged 17 competitions where late or non-payment concerns have been reported.
“Late and non-payment is a persistent issue in domestic leagues globally, and the problem is not improving,” WCA chief executive Tom Moffat told ESPNcricinfo. “We have long advocated for global protections that could assist players and the game in resolving these matters.”
The WCA, which advocates for player rights, has proposed establishing a global arbitration body—similar to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber—to adjudicate payment disputes. However, the ICC maintains that payment issues within domestic leagues fall under the jurisdiction of individual member boards, not the global governing body.
A widely suggested solution is the introduction of an escrow-based payment system, where franchises deposit players’ salaries into a third-party account before the season begins. This system would ensure that salaries are disbursed per contract terms, preventing disputes between leagues and franchises over financial obligations.
