Bangladesh's domestic cricketers, particularly the women, have received a significant financial boost as the newly formed BCB ad-hoc committee announced its first major decision on Thursday.
The move comes after new board chief Tamim Iqbal was reportedly shocked to learn about the current pay structure for female players.
Until recently, women in the domestic circuit were earning a match fee of just BDT 1,000 (USD 8 approx.) for a one-day competition.
Under the revised structure, women will now receive BDT 10,000 for T20s, BDT 15,000 for 50-over games, and BDT 20,000 for first-class matches.
The monthly salary for the top 36 women in the domestic setup has also been pushed up from BDT 30,000 to BDT 40,000.
"This may not be ideal, but it is certainly an improvement, considering there are limits to how much can be increased at once," Tamim said.
The men's domestic circuit also saw a substantial pay rise, with Tamim noting there had been little increment over the last three to four years.
First-class match fees for men have gone up to BDT 100,000 from the previous BDT 70,000 . In the new monthly salary brackets, Category A players will now get BDT 65,000 , while Category B and C will receive BDT 50,000 and BDT 40,000, respectively.
"I think the players were highly underpaid in the previous salary structure," Tamim said. "These players work hard, and cricket exists because of their efforts. At the very least, they deserve fair compensation."
The new monthly salaries for both men and women will come into effect from January 1, 2026.
With the financial changes secured, the 11-member ad-hoc committee is now turning its attention toward ending a stalemate with local club teams, as they look to get the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League underway in the coming weeks.
MSH
