Five franchises clear initial payments

Five out of seven BPL franchises have paid their players 25% of their fees, which was due before the tournament began, the BPL governing council has said. Chittagong Kings and Sylhet Royals are the only franchises not to have completed the payments by the latest deadline, set by the BCB, of February 5.

"Dhaka Gladiators, Duronto Rajshahi, Barisal Burners, Khulna Royal Bengals and Rangpur Riders have given cheques. We are assessing their players' agreement papers," BPL governing council chairman Afzalur Rahman Sinha said.

"We have returned the papers of the Sylhet players because there were some issues, while Chittagong have told us that papers are ready and will be delivered to us shortly."

The BPL governing council, however, said it wouldn't help those players that took salaries directly from the franchises, in case of a payment dispute. The BCB had taken responsibility this season of making all payments after franchises delayed clearing dues last year, resulting in the tournament's negative image.

"The players shouldn't have done this after the board had taken responsibility. We have let those players know through (the players' representative body) that we will not come forward to help them if they are in payment disputes."

The next due date is February 19, before which the franchises have to pay another 25% of the players' fees. The rest of the salary has to be paid by August 19, according to the payment rules.