First-class cricketers on dire financial straits
The coronavirus outbreak has taken an enormous toll on individual lives and impacted the economy worldwide. Major sports were halted around the world a week ago, with clubs also around European countries facing bankruptcy and struggling to pay out staff.
Also practice sessions and camps have already been halted to prevent the pass on of the virus.
When postponed events will continue continues to be shrouded found in uncertainty and even events scheduled for weeks later on are being reconsidered, specifically after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Euro 2020 were postponed until next year.
Bangladesh Cricket Plank (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan mentioned that the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League, that was postponed following the first round, might not resume before April 15. He said resuming from then on date was much more likely.
This uncertainty regarding the domestic league has recently started to make several cricketers anxious in this perilous time as their livelihoods rely upon such remuneration.
17 players are beneath the current BCB's central contract list while around 80-90 first-category cricketers are also paid regular. However, apart from these players, there are many others whose prime income source is the DPL.
That might cause trouble for such cricketers, whose only means of salary will be halted in the wake of the pandemic.
Several cricketers who aren't in contract with the BCB are terrified, especially following a board president's assumed timeline.
However, all-rounder Alauddin Babu, whose services were acquired simply by Brothers Union, is normally hopeful that the havoc wreaked simply by the coronavirus will quickly come to a finish and everything will get back to being normal.
"I could not take up the national league for days gone by two years due to injury. And that's the reason I was not contained in the first-class deal list. I was eagerly pumped up about playing the DPL. But if it generally does not resume i quickly will obviously maintain a fix. Still, I am hopeful that the consequences of coronavirus will lower and we can take up the premier league," said Alauddin.
Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain, who made his international debut in 2014 but didn't make a brand for himself in Bangladesh colors, was concerned of losing another shot at proving himself even while also mentioning how it could affect him financially.
"I did so not get groups properly in the last couple of years. Even easily managed to get a team, almost all of the time I experienced to play free of charge. This time I became a member of Partex SC and I'd also get match time. But before anything could happen, the league acquired halted as a result of coronavirus pandemic. I did not even get the chance to show myself. To leading that, there exists a financial drawback as well," regretted Jubair.
Jubair also hoped that the BCB could extend their support towards out-of-national-contract players want him.
"I am hoping the BCB makes arrangements for players who are actually out of your national side. If they could include us at least in the first-class contract list," sighed Jubair.
Thinking along the same line as Jubair are national discards Dhiman Ghosh and Tushar Imran. Both of these urged the BCB to come forward in this crisis. Dhiman brought up: "I am in the first-class contract list. But there are numerous of cricketers who aren't. In this crisis circumstances, the BCB should arrive forward at least considering the current scenario."
Tushar, a domestic colossus and Alauddin's teammate for the growing season in the DPL, is also worried about players who are not under deal with the BCB.
"I am in the first-class deal list and there remain 80-90 players in the list. But there are in least 60-70 players outside this list who produce their livelihood by playing this premier league each year. Can you think about their plight if the DPL does not resume?," Tushar wondered.
The 36-year-old also demanded the BCB to boost the number of players in the first-class contract list.
"The BCB should increase the quantity of players beneath the first-class deal list. At least the number of contracted players should range between 200-300. Even so, in this situation, it isn't simply the players who are suffering. Even the plank can be being affected, however the BCB is normally a profitable organisation. Taking into consideration the overall situation, they have to increase the first-category contracted players' list. Simply in that case can those players survive," explained Tushar.
Not only a dilemma of survival of uncontracted players, the issues go deeper.
Although only the initially round of country's premier fifty-over domestic league has been played, a number of players have previously taken advance payments. This might create a difficulty if the league will not continue, which explains why Tushar urged the BCB to chalk out a remedy.
"I am taking part in for Brothers Union this season. Although I did not take any progress payment, there are players who previously took 20-30 % or even 50-60 % of their repayment. But only 1 round of the league was played out and now if the clubs desire their money back, then the players are bound to come back it. This issue has to be resolved. I am likewise requesting the table to provide six months' salary beforehand to players in the first-class contract list," concluded Tushar.
With conditions all over the world showing zero signs of bettering and more countries reporting new situations, everyone needs to come forward in tackling this pandemic.
One particular example was place by 27 national cricketers, who decided to donate 50 % of this month's income to a good government fund that aims to attack the pandemic.
But it can be true that don't assume all cricketer is with the capacity of such generous gestures. Some cricketers, especially types not under deal with the BCB, may need someone shopping for them in such dangerous times.
