The Bangladesh Cricket Board's ad-hoc committee has approved the most significant Bangladesh cricket player salary increase in at least three to four years, revising match fees and monthly retainers for both men's and women's domestic cricketers. The decision, confirmed by the BCB in an official statement, comes shortly after committee chairman Tamim Iqbal expressed open surprise at the figures domestic players had been receiving — particularly women cricketers, whose ODI match fee stood at just 1,000 taka before the revision.
The 11-member ad-hoc committee, installed under Tamim Iqbal's chairmanship, moved quickly on the pay question once the existing figures came to light. BCB's new domestic pay structure takes effect across both the men's and women's programs, covering match fees by format and monthly retainers by performance tier.
It's the kind of review that should have happened sooner. Tamim acknowledged that salaries had barely moved over the previous three to four years, leaving domestic players — particularly those outside the national contract list — earning amounts that bore little relation to the time and commitment professional cricket demands.
Before this revision, a Bangladesh women's cricketer received 1,000 taka for an ODI appearance — roughly $8, or approximately ₹750 at current exchange rates. Tamim said he was genuinely taken aback when that number was put in front of him. Even accounting for differences in purchasing power, the figure reflected years of administrative neglect toward the women's program.
Under the new structure, women's ODI match fees rise to 15,000 taka. First-class matches will now pay 20,000 taka, and T20 games 10,000 taka. The monthly retainer for the top 36 women's domestic players has moved from 30,000 taka to 40,000 taka — a 33% increase that brings Bangladesh women's cricket closer to a functional professional structure, even if it still falls well short of the fees paid by boards like Cricket Australia and the ECB, where equivalent match payments can run into thousands of dollars. Bangladesh women's cricket has grown considerably in recent years; the pay structure is now, at least partly, catching up.
Men's domestic cricketers have also seen meaningful movement. Category A players will now earn 65,000 taka per month, Category B players 50,000 taka, and Category C players 40,000 taka. First-class match fees have risen from 70,000 taka to 100,000 taka — a 43% increase for the format that sits at the foundation of Bangladesh's domestic structure.
Tamim, who played 391 international matches across all formats before moving into administration, carries personal standing on this issue that few BCB officials can claim. He spent the better part of two decades inside the system the committee is now reforming, which gives his acknowledgment that players were "considerably underpaid" a weight that a career administrator's statement wouldn't carry.
He was direct about the limitations too. This round of increases isn't where BCB ultimately wants to be — a single large revision wasn't financially viable, but doing nothing wasn't an option either. Cricket, as he put it, runs on the players who show up to train and compete week after week. Paying them fairly isn't generosity. It's basic accountability.
The salary revision sits within a broader reform agenda. Tamim has acknowledged openly that BCB's institutional reputation took real damage over the 18 months preceding the committee's formation — an unusual admission from someone now running the board, and a signal that the new leadership isn't interested in defending the recent past.
He's indicated that further corrective steps are coming. The specifics haven't been laid out publicly yet, but the direction is clear: a board that cricket in Bangladesh can take pride in rather than distance itself from. Whether the ad-hoc committee's mandate extends into governance structure, selection processes, or commercial operations remains to be seen.
What's confirmed is that the Bangladesh cricket player salary increase announced this week is the first, not the last, change this committee intends to make.
How much do Bangladesh domestic cricketers earn per match in 2025?
Men's first-class match fees now stand at 100,000 taka, up from 70,000 taka. Monthly retainers run from 40,000 taka at Category C to 65,000 taka at Category A. Women's ODI fees have moved from 1,000 taka to 15,000 taka, with T20 games at 10,000 taka and first-class matches at 20,000 taka. These are the most substantial revisions to BCB's domestic pay structure in at least three to four years.
Why were Bangladesh women cricketers being paid so little before the 2025 salary hike?
The 1,000-taka ODI fee had gone unreviewed for years inside BCB's administrative cycle. Tamim said the figure caught him off guard when it was raised in committee. It reflects a wider pattern across South Asian cricket where women's domestic programs have historically received a fraction of the attention directed at the men's game. The 15,000-taka revision is real progress — but women's match fees at boards like Cricket Australia and the ECB still sit significantly higher.
How does the BCB salary increase compare to other Asian cricket boards?
Direct comparisons are complicated by different payment structures across boards. BCCI Grade C contracted players earn considerably more than BCB's Category A tier, and boards like Cricket Ireland have moved toward professional contracts for women's domestic players. BCB's revised figures narrow the gap regionally but don't close it. How quickly further revisions follow will depend on BCB's revenue and the committee's broader reform timeline.
What other reforms is Tamim Iqbal planning for BCB beyond the salary hike?
Tamim has flagged that pay revision is one part of a wider effort to restore BCB's standing, which he said had been genuinely damaged over the past 18 months. Further corrective measures are expected, though no specific timelines or additional policy details have been confirmed publicly. The ad-hoc committee's temporary structure suggests a fuller governance review may follow once the immediate operational priorities are addressed.
Does the BCB salary hike cover Under-19 and age-group domestic cricketers?
The announcement covers senior domestic players — the top-36 women's tier and men's Category A, B, and C. There's no public confirmation that age-group or Under-19 players are included in this round of revisions. BCB's statement addressed senior domestic structure only. Any extension of the reforms down through the age-group pathway would represent a more fundamental shift in how Bangladesh retains young talent — and would almost certainly come as a separate announcement.
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