Taskin on Foreign Players' Absence: "What Could I Say, I'm a Player Too"

This season’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been full of drama, and one team that has repeatedly found itself at the center of controversy is Durbar Rajshahi. The team has been in the news multiple times due to issues with paying players’ dues. However, the latest incident has crossed a new line of controversy. Six foreign players refused to play in their match against Rangpur Riders due to non-payment, and they stayed in the hotel instead of joining the game. Here are the details of what transpired.

On Sunday, Durbar Rajshahi defeated Rangpur Riders by just 2 runs in a thrilling match. Following the game, the team’s captain, Taskin Ahmed, addressed the media and clarified the situation surrounding the foreign players' refusal to take the field.

"We witnessed a lot of drama from the start of the day. As far as I know, the team management went to the foreign players' rooms after receiving their payments, but no one opened the door," Taskin said.

Taskin further explained, "It’s a new experience for me. We had originally booked Sheraton, but then it was changed to Westin. When we arrived at Westin, all rooms were said to be booked, so we had to switch hotels again. Our board called and asked us to play, even though the payment issue was not resolved."

Regarding the payment situation, Taskin added, "Mr. Farook, the BCB president, reassured everyone. He said, even if there’s a delay in payments, the BCB will take care of it, and we should focus on playing."

When asked why the foreign players refused to play, Taskin humorously responded, "I told them to go out and play, but they said they wouldn’t play unless they received the money. What can I say? I’m a player too." (Laughs)

When asked whether the foreign players would join the team for the next match, Taskin replied, "Actually, I haven’t gone to the hotel yet. It would be good for the team if they come. I hope they will, but I can’t say for sure yet."

On the issue of empathy towards the foreign players, Taskin shared, "Well, we were given a check too. It was for 25% of the remaining amount. I hope it doesn’t bounce like the way checks bounce!" (Laughs)

With the situation still unresolved, the future of the foreign players in the squad remains uncertain, but the ongoing payment disputes are definitely causing some tension in the team’s dynamics