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Protesting Bangladesh cricketers call off strike, set to tour India as scheduled

Bangladesh cricketers are now set to participate in the preparation camp for their tour of India which is scheduled to start from October 25

Protesting Bangladesh cricketers call off strike, set to tour India as scheduled

Bangladesh national cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan (C) speaks with journalist next to teammate Mushfiqur Rahim (R) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, in Dhaka on October 21, 2019. (Photo by STR / AFP)

Led by Shakib Al Hasan, the protesting Bangladesh cricketers called off their strike, on Wednesday, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to meet all their demands. As the deadlock over pay and benefits ended the tour of India has been put back on track.

“As Papon bhai (BCB boss Nazmul Hassan) said, it was a fruitful discussion. He and the rest of the directors assured us that our demands will be met as soon as possible. Based on their assurance, we will start playing the NCL and attend the training camp,” Shakib was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

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Hasan, who had on Tuesday called the strike a conspiracy and lashed out at the cricketers for not putting their demands formally to him, on Wednesday agreed to meet most of the demands.

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“Among their 11 demands, the first one (CWAB elections) doesn’t have anything to do with the BCB and the last demand (more than two NOCs per year to play franchise tournaments) will be taken case to case.

“We have agreed with the rest of the demands, like the DPL transfers and BPL franchise model. We will also significantly improve their allowances in the domestic competitions, and it will be done in the next two or three days. Not in six months or a year,” the BCB president said.

Reportedly, the players had added two more demands, asking for a percentage of BCB revenue and equal pay for the female cricketers, to the already 11 made on Monday. Hasan, though, did not commit anything on the last two demands.

The delegation which included senior cricketers like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmadullah and Tamim Iqbal, among others, also demanded a fresh election in players’ body to which the BCB agreed.

“We told them that there should be (CWAB) elections swiftly. We want a representative from the current players so that our problems can be discussed with the board regularly. It will be the best for the players. They have agreed, and the elections will be held when we are all available. We can tell you that we are happy when the demands are implemented, but discussions have been satisfying,” Shakib said.

It was reported on Wednesday that the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intervened herself and summoned Mashrafe Mortaza to know about the crisis after Hasan and BCB director Naimur Rahman met her. The One day International (ODI) captain was asked to talk to the players.

Cricket is now set to resume in the country with the first-class players set to participate in the National Cricket League from Saturday, while the national players will be in the preparation camp for their tour of India which is scheduled to start from October 25.

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