BCB Clears Full Dues of Chattogram Royals Players

One of the most talked-about names in this season’s BPL was Naim Sheikh. The opener, who was signed for a tournament-highest fee of 11 million BDT, drew attention not only for his on-field performances but also over payment concerns. At the end of the tournament, the right-handed batter finally received his full payment, adding a positive chapter to Chattogram Royals’ turbulent beginning.

Rising from mismanagement and uncertainty, Chattogram Royals set a unique example this season. Just a day before the start of the BPL, the franchise owners withdrew from operating the team. Despite the chaos, the side went on to finish as runners-up. Twenty-five days after the tournament concluded, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cleared all outstanding payments of the players, reinforcing a message of accountability.

Present during Thursday’s payment proceedings were BPL Governing Council Member Secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu and BCB Cricket Operations Chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim.

Apart from Naim Sheikh, players including Shoriful Islam and Sadman Islam also received their dues in full.

Recalling the team’s remarkable journey, Iftekhar Rahman Mithu said, “Chittagong team’s owner informed us through a letter the day before the tournament that they would not be able to run the team. We quickly took responsibility and appointed Habibul Bashar as team director. Within 24 hours, we arranged the foreign players and everything else to field the team. The fact that this team played so well and became runners-up is a big credit to the management and the players.”

Clarifying the payment process, he added, “The players were paid 50 percent earlier, and today we have cleared the remaining amount and settled all dues.”