With the Dhaka Premier Division League (DPL) set to return to a February-April window next year and the Players-by-Choice system on the verge of making a comeback, cricketers have asked the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) to ensure greater security over their payments.
Players met the CCDM on Wednesday to discuss the payment structure for the 2026-27 DPL as well as the proposed Players-by-Choice system. However, the CCDM is yet to offer any concrete guarantee on payment, with the matter ultimately depending on the clubs.
“We had a meeting with the players regarding the upcoming DPL’s payment structure. However, nothing concrete has been decided yet. We will meet the club officials in the next few days. Following that, there will be a three-party meeting to resolve the issue,” a CCDM official told TIMES.
Payment security has become a major concern for the players after several clubs failed to settle payments on time in recent seasons. Brothers Union were at the centre of the issue last season when their players walked out of the ground after not receiving their dues.
The players therefore raised the matter with the CCDM, seeking assurances before the new season begins. The official said the board would try to strengthen the payment mechanism, although the clubs remain responsible for paying the cricketers.
“That’s up to the clubs. However, we will try to ensure the security as well,” the official said.
The push for Players-by-Choice comes from the players’ desire for a more even competition and a clearer payment structure. In a meeting organised by the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), led by Mohammad Mithun, cricketers discussed how the proposed system could reduce the disparity between teams while giving players greater certainty over their earnings.
The proposal calls for seven salary brackets, ranging from Tk5 lakh in the lowest category to Tk60 lakh in the highest. The other categories would carry fixed payments of Tk50 lakh, Tk40 lakh, Tk30 lakh, Tk20 lakh and Tk10 lakh respectively.
The clubs would still have a say in building their squads, with the category system determining the payment bracket for the selected players. However, neither the categories nor the proposed fees have been finalised yet and will require further discussions between the stakeholders.
Players-by-Choice has not been used in the DPL since the 2015-16 season. The league has operated through direct negotiations between clubs and players ever since, a process that has contributed to noticeable differences in the strength of the participating teams.
The 2026-27 DPL is scheduled to start on February 10, 2027, and is expected to continue until April 17.
