“There aren’t many green lights for the BPL” – Lisa Sthalekar calls for change
A Legacy of Controversy
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has occupied a central space in the cricketing calendar for over a decade. Yet, despite the passion of local fans and the presence of world-class talent, the tournament has been perpetually dogged by recurring controversies. From logistical hurdles to concerns regarding the internal administration, the league has struggled to shake off a reputation for instability.
Perhaps the most damaging of these issues has been the chronic problem of unpaid player salaries. In recent seasons, several franchises have faced severe accusations of failing to compensate their squads, leading to public disputes and, in some instances, formal legal proceedings. These systemic failures have raised significant questions about the long-term viability and professional standards of the league.
The WCA Perspective
Against this turbulent backdrop, Lisa Sthalekar, president of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), has stepped forward to address the situation. During her visit to Bangladesh for the Bangladesh-Australia series, Sthalekar provided a candid assessment of the league’s current status while speaking at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Sthalekar highlighted the WCA’s unique methodology for evaluating global T20 leagues. “What the World Cricketers’ Association does, and we have it on our website, is almost a traffic-light system of all the T20 leagues around the world,” she explained. “It’s to help players, administrators and agents understand what the issues have been and what the successful aspects of each T20 league are.”
When asked to assess the BPL’s position within this framework, she was direct: “Obviously, if you look at the BPL, its traffic light doesn’t have a lot of green, unfortunately.”
An Opportunity for Reform
Despite her pointed criticism, Sthalekar maintains a sense of optimism regarding the potential for reform. She highlighted the role of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) new administration, suggesting that this transition offers a blank slate to address long-standing grievances. According to Sthalekar, the objective should be to transition the league from its current “amber” or “red” status into the “green” category, making Bangladesh an attractive destination for top-tier overseas talent once again.
“This is an opportunity for them as a new organisation and executive committee to work with the Bangladesh Cricket Board to ensure that overseas players want to come here and play,” she noted. “And for it to be a tournament that people want to travel to and be part of because you’ve got some wonderful facilities and some wonderful cricketers.”
Prioritizing Player Welfare
At the heart of Sthalekar’s argument is the fundamental principle that professional cricketers are entitled to the same rights and securities as any other professional in the workforce. She drew a parallel to the journalistic profession, emphasizing that when a job is performed, compensation is not merely a request—it is a contractual obligation.
“For professional cricketers, this is their job. It’s the same for journalists—you expect to be paid for your work. A professional cricketer, if they’ve gone out and played cricket and done their job, should be paid for it,” Sthalekar asserted. She emphasized that while the WCA operates primarily at the international level with the ICC, the responsibility for enforcing these standards domestically lies with local associations.
The Role of Local Leadership
Sthalekar also praised the efforts of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) and specifically mentioned the engagement of new administrators in learning the ropes of player representation. She shared insights from a constructive meeting held in Dhaka, where she discussed the challenges and the future vision for the association.
“It’s been great to actually be here in Bangladesh and catch up with Mithun and a number of the other committee members. It was wonderful to get an understanding of what the new administration has been doing,” she said. “At the end of the day, they’re here representing all professional cricketers in Bangladesh, and I think they’ve been doing a wonderful job.”
As the BPL looks toward the future, the message from the WCA is clear: the path to legitimacy and prosperity lies in accountability, structural integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the players who make the game possible. Whether the local administration can rise to this challenge remains to be seen, but the call for change has certainly been sounded.
