District cricketers in BCB with 17-point demand

There is a wind of reform in the country. People from different classes and professions are presenting different types of demands to the interim government.

Changes in the leadership of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have resulted in changes in political power. The cricket related people are appearing with various demands to this new-look cricket board. Cricketers from 64 districts of the country appeared on BCB on Sunday (September 8) at noon. Their main aim was to present their 17-point demands to the new leadership of the board.

Recently, after former cricketer Farooq Ahmed took charge as BCB president and Nazmul Abedin Fahim as director, many people related to cricket including cricketers have raised their demands.

These cricketers from 64 districts took a stand with banners in front of the academy building at the home of cricket in Mirpur. Among their main demands were – increase in match fee for cricketers at the district level, organization of tournaments in all three versions of Test, ODI and T20 in Dhaka first class league and ensuring modern practice facilities for cricketers in every district. A few of their key claims are given for the convenience of the reader.

The main claims are summarized as follows:

1. A permanent budget should be allocated for cricket leagues at the district level and financial assistance should be given to the cricketers to continue the game. This will reduce financial problems of cricketers and increase their performance standards.

2. The Dhaka Premier League (DPL) is to host three editions of the tournament—First Class, ODI and T20. This will create opportunities for players to play in all formats and improve their performance.

3. Test, ODI, T20 games should be created in every department and first class cricket games outside Dhaka should be ensured. This will increase the opportunities of cricketers from other districts of the country.

4. Adequate infrastructure and facilities should be provided for cricketers to practice in each district. In particular, it is important to increase the field, net practice and coaching facilities.

5. QUAB must be run independently, so that it can properly represent the players and protect their interests.

6. First division, second division and third division cricket leagues of Dhaka will have to be played in all three editions, Test, ODI and T20.

7. For national cricketers, more matches should be promoted on TV broadcast and digital media, so as to increase the popularity of cricket among the audience.

8. Dhaka Second Division and Third Division should organize regular T20 tournaments, which will act as a platform for young cricketers.

9. Cricket academies should be set up in all districts and the cricketers would be given advanced training and coaching to improve their skills.

10. Better match fee should be ensured for the district level cricketers and this fee should be increased gradually, so that they can be financially enriched.

11. Training facilities should be permanently increased in each department along with the number of coaches. It will help young cricketers to reach the professional level.

12. Apart from the cricket academy in Dhaka, practice and coaching facilities should be improved in the district as well.

13. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) should organize international tournaments at different places and local players of Bangladesh should be given opportunities to play in those tournaments.

14. Prizes should be arranged in district wise and division wise tournaments, which will boost the morale of young cricketers and create competition among them.

15. All the cricketers have to collect complete information through BCB's registration system, so that their skills and performance can be evaluated.

16. BPL and other franchise tournaments should include more local cricketers and create new opportunities for them.

17. Special programs for local cricket development should be launched under all cricket associations, so that the cricket infrastructure of the country is improved.

Later, while talking to the media, the cricketers said that BCB has assured to accept their demands. Irregularities have been happening for a long time. If the BCB is optimistic, we hope the issue will be resolved soon.

Bangladesh /FM