Sri Lankan All-Rounder Lahiru Samarakoon Returns Empty-Handed from BPL 2025

Sri Lankan all-rounder Lahiru Samarakoon, who came to play in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), has returned home empty-handed. Despite being contracted for the entire tournament, Samarakoon leaves Bangladesh without receiving any payment from the Durbar Rajshahi franchise. After playing just one match in the BPL, his name remains with no runs, no wickets, and no earnings.

Samarakoon boarded a flight back to Sri Lanka yesterday, saying goodbye to the BPL. He informed that the Durbar Rajshahi management had not paid him a single penny. This leaves him returning to his country with nothing. The contract he signed with Rajshahi was worth $15,000 for the entire BPL season.

Previously, Samarakoon had filed an official complaint with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the non-payment from Rajshahi. He had reportedly contacted the franchise’s management almost every day, asking for his payment.

His only appearance in this year’s BPL was in the opening match, which turned out to be his first and last game. In that match against Fortune Barishal, Samarakoon bowled 4 overs, conceding the most runs—64. After that, he was not seen again in Rajshahi's playing XI.

Rajshahi has already completed all their group-stage matches. Although they are still in the race for the playoffs, they will have to rely on the results of other teams. If Rajshahi fails to qualify for the playoffs, Samarakoon's experience in this year’s BPL will be limited to just one match, with no financial compensation to show for it.