Durbar Rajshahi Owner Vows to Settle Dues Amid Payment Row

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) continues to be embroiled in financial controversy, as Durbar Rajshahi franchise owner Shafiqur Rahman has again promised to clear outstanding payments to players by February 10. His commitment comes after repeated delays and growing pressure over the episode from the Bangladesh Sports Ministry.

Initially, Rahman had assured that the players’ dues would be settled by February 2, but after missing that deadline, he has now pledged to make payments in three installments—25% on February 3, another 25% on February 7, and the final 50% on February 10.

The development follows intervention from Asif Mahmud, a government advisor on sports and youth affairs, who reportedly warned Rahman of potential legal consequences if the payments were not made. The Bangladesh government has also set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the issue—a rare move, given that the BPL is an event run by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

As the financial turmoil deepened, Rajshahi’s overseas players found themselves stuck in Dhaka without their full payments. The affected players included Mohammad Haris, Aftab Alam (Afghanistan), Mark Deyal (West Indies), Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe), and Miguel Cummins (West Indies). The crisis wasn’t limited to players. Even team staff—including the team bus driver—claimed unpaid wages, with Wisden reporting that the bus driver confiscated players’ kit bags as leverage.

The ongoing financial debacle raises serious concerns about franchise accountability and player welfare in the BPL. The intervention of the Sports Ministry and the formation of an inquiry committee indicate that authorities are now taking the matter seriously. However, whether Durbar Rajshahi’s owner follows through on his latest promise remains to be seen.

With multiple controversies already surrounding the BPL this season, including allegations of corruption, the league’s credibility is now under intense scrutiny. Failure to resolve these financial issues could have long-term repercussions on the tournament’s reputation and the future participation of international stars.