Tigers welcome BCB’s plan to increase match fees

National cricketers Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Mahmudullah have praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s [BCB] decision to hike match fees. 

The BCB, following a marathon meeting on Sunday, decided to increase the match fee for each Test from Tk3.5 lakh to Taka 6 lakh, from Tk2 lakh to Tk3 lakh for each ODI, and from Tk1 lakh to TK2 lakh for each T20I.

The BCB has also planned for added incentives for Test cricketers and are working on offering separate central contracts for red and white ball cricket. 

An increment to the international match fee structure was one of the demands from the cricketers who went on strike last October. Bangladesh nation team senior member Mahmudullah thanked the BCB for the initiative.      

#BCB not permitted long #Pakistan tour https://t.co/wub3ZFWbBX

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 12, 2020

“It is a very positive decision. It will help our Test cricket and I thank the board for this. The incentives will surely attract more cricketers to the longer version. I am not saying that there was no attraction towards this format, but at the end of the day cricket is our bread and butter. The new fee structure will encourage the cricketers,” Mahmdullah told the media Monday.

Bangladesh men’s ODI team captain Mashrafe Mortaza appreciated the splitting of contracts for the longer version and limited overs cricket.

“Those who will be available for all three formats will be better paid. Even those who are just playing Tests should be paid higher. That way, there might be a change in our Test cricket scenario. The BCB has taken a nice decision. There are times when we hear there are cricketers who do not want to play Test cricket. A better salary will surely encourage the cricketers,” Mashrafe said.