Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza likely to mediate between players and BCB

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly appointed ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza as the mediator to resolve the dispute between the country's cricket board and its cricketers, who have gone on an indefinite strike over pay and benefits.  According to a report, the players are likely to meet with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials later on Wednesday.  "After the media conference last evening, I spoke to a senior player who told me that they would get back to us at any time after discussing among themselves. We expect to sit with them at 5 pm today," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said in a press briefing at noon.

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Mashrafe Mortaza to mediate 

Samakal, a local daily, quoted BCB Director Mahbubul Anam as saying that Hasina enquired about the crisis with Mashrafe Mortaza, who led the team in the 2019 World Cup.  "She wanted to know the latest about cricket's situation," he said. Then she asked Mashrafe to tell the players to return to the field." According to the report, all indications are that the issue is heading towards a positive outcome.

The strike began on Monday which cast doubt on Bangladesh's tour of India due to start on November 3. But on Tuesday night, the BCB agreed to one of the key demands of the players - to bring back the Dhaka Premier League's club transfer system - following a meeting of the Dhaka league committee.  The players' other main demands are: Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) must go back to the franchise model, central contract salary should be higher, and include more players, higher first-class match fees and players' association to no longer have a conflict of interest.

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BCB chief slams Bangladesh players

The BCB chief said that the board have agreed to bigger demands before. With the ongoing National Cricket League, the BCB is currently focused on the country’s domestic circuit while earlier, the governing council was focused on the World Cup in England. Hassan also dismissed off the strike as not a “real issue” and if the players ever had certain demands, the board was always ready to talk. Meanwhile, the BCB assembled an emergency meeting this Tuesday to address the players impending requirements. The Bangladesh cricket team decided to not participate in any cricketing activity until their demands were fully met by the governing body. Their strike will directly impact the ongoing National Cricket League, the country’s oldest and premier first-class tournament. It will also affect Bangladesh’s upcoming tour to India which will comprise three T20Is and two Test matches.

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READ | Bangladesh cricket strike: BCB chief slams players, but open to talks