Former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar emphasized that the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) needs to enhance its standards to attract and keep top International players. This follows a recent evaluation by the World Cricketers’ Association, which assessed key domestic T20 leagues based on criteria developed with input from players, agents, and associations.
The evaluation classified major domestic leagues as those including five or more current players from ICC Full Member nations as overseas participants. The BPL ranked the lowest among these leagues.
Sthalekar encouraged the newly established Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh to collaborate with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to tackle ongoing issues related to the tournament. The BPL has been criticized for delayed or unpaid player salaries and allegations of match-fixing.
“The World Cricketers’ Association has a system to evaluate T20 leagues worldwide. It helps players and administrators understand the challenges and strengths of each league. Unfortunately, the BPL has very little green in its assessment. Speaking to Mithun (president of the CWAB), I see this as a chance for the new organization to work with the BCB to attract overseas players and improve the league’s status,” said Sthalekar, as reported by Cricbuzz.
“The tournament should be appealing for players and visitors, especially given the excellent facilities and talented cricketers. Bangladesh’s recent performances show their potential. I hope both organizations can join forces to strengthen the BPL,” she added.
Sthalekar also noted that settling payment disputes should be a priority if the BPL wishes to compete with top T20 leagues worldwide. She believes the CWAB can significantly impact addressing these issues.
“For professional cricketers, cricket is their job. Everyone expects to be paid for their work. A cricketer should receive their compensation after performing their role on the field. If there are established contracts and structures, they should be honored. This responsibility lies with the players’ association on the ground,” stated Sthalekar.
“The World Cricketers’ Association primarily assists at the ICC level, dealing with the ICC rather than individual cricket boards. However, Mithun is attending a board meeting in London, which will be a great learning opportunity for him regarding global players’ associations and our programs,” she concluded.