The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has a lot of work to do if it wants to attract foreign talent and elevate its status in the world of cricket. This is the opinion of Lisa Sthalekar, a former Australian cricketer and current president of the World Cricketers' Association (WCA).
Sthalekar's comments come at a critical time for the BPL, which has faced criticism for non-payment issues and match-fixing scandals. In a recent assessment by the WCA, the BPL ranked last among ten T20 tournaments, scoring a mere 22.6 points. In contrast, The Hundred leads the pack with 75.2 points, followed by SA20 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 68 and 62.6 points, respectively.
"The BPL's traffic light doesn't have a lot of green," Sthalekar observed, referring to the WCA's traffic-light system that evaluates T20 leagues worldwide. She urged the newly formed Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) to collaborate with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to address these issues and create an environment that encourages foreign participation.
One of the key challenges the BPL faces is payment disputes. Sthalekar believes that professional cricketers, like any other workers, deserve to be paid for their services. She emphasized the importance of honoring contracts and frameworks to ensure a fair and stable environment for players.
"For it to be a tournament that people want to travel to and be part of, you've got to address these issues," she said. "The BPL has wonderful facilities and talented cricketers, but it needs to move into the amber and green categories to truly thrive."
Sthalekar expressed confidence in the CWAB's ability to improve over time. She praised the new administration for their efforts and willingness to learn about players' associations and their role in representing professional cricketers.
"These administrators are learning on the job, and I think they're doing a wonderful job considering the challenges they've faced," she added.
The BPL's future success hinges on its ability to address these issues and create a positive environment for players. With the right collaboration and improvements, the league has the potential to become a thriving and attractive destination for foreign cricketers.
