[Nocturnal]

Originally Posted by The Daily Star

Cricketers get 30% pay rise
Sports Reporter

Salary of the national cricket team players and the local staff of the team management has been increased by thirty per cent.

The decision was taken at a marathon meeting of directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last night at its Mirpur headquarters. The issue of the pay rise was long overdue as the last payroll expired in November last year.

In another major move, the BCB will purchase land suitable for cricket stadiums from across the country on a priority basis.

BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus after the meeting informed that the board observed a minute's silence in memory of the deceased members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces and civilians in the Pilkhana tragedy on February 25.

"The board also took some significant decisions, notably an increase in the salary of national players and local staff of the national team management and in regards to approval of the BCB HR Policy and Media Protocol," said Yunus.

The contracts of national team operations manager Shafiqul Haque Hira, fielding coach Mohammad Salah Uddin and computer analyst Nasir Ahmed have been extended by another year. The contract of national team bowling coach Champaka Ramanayeke has been extended until the end of Bangladesh's tour of the West Indies later this year.

To expedite the ICC Cricket World Cup organisational aspects and to coordinate with various government and other concerned agencies a four-member committee has been formed. The board also formed a three-member committee to organise the BCB AGM. Director Dewan Shafiul Arefin has been named convener of both committees.

"We are yet to get the guideline for the local organising committee for the World Cup from the ICC [International Cricket Council]. We will decide on the committee once we get the guideline from ICC," said Jalal.

The board's media protocol, which is the media code of conduct for BCB members, officials, players and staff has also been approved.

The board approved the Bangladesh under-19 team's tour of England next month. The board is also making necessary arrangements for the forthcoming Bangladesh tour of the Sri Lanka and South Africa Academy teams.

Substantial development has been made in formulation of the divisional cricket constitution 2009 which will be finalised before the next meeting of the board of directors.

The BCB Anti-Doping Policy has been also approved.

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