||CF  Correspondent ||

Bangladesh’s cricket goes into deep water as the cricketers called for an unprecedented strike on Monday to press home their 11 demands, leaving next month's tour of India uncertain.

The impromptu press conference was arranged by the leading cricketers of the country at the BCB academy premises where Test and Twenty20 skipper Shakib al Hasan stated that unless our demands were met we will not get involved in any cricketing activities. It includes everything– the first-class cricket, national team preparation, international cricket.

It seemed the outburst of the cricketers was an outcome of long term grievances but the way it was presented and that too just ahead of the upcoming tour of India it clearly suggests that it was nothing short being shameful as the whole world is keeping an eye on their activities considering the hype generated by playing the superpower of cricket.

 Shakib said that only National Under-19 team, who play a series against their Sri Lankan counterparts from next week as part of their World Cup preparations, and another age-level team will out of their indefinite strike programme that clearly puzzled the entire cricket fraternity.

 Sakib, who was flanked by dozens of players including national stalwarts Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah among others said that the strike will be effective from October 21 that put lot of things at stake that includes national team’s preparation for India tour uncertain. 

Bangladesh are scheduled to start their preparation for India tour on October 25.
The Tigers will play three Twenty20 internationals and two Tests in India, with the series starting with first Twenty20 international on November 3 in Delhi. 

Players demanded respect from Board, restoration of the previous pay structure in Dhaka Premier League and also said that at least Tk one lakh match fees for the National Cricket League, country’s traditional first-class tournament of the country.

Players demanded that there should be at least 30 players in national payroll and 50 per cent rise in the salary of first-class players. 

Currently the BCB, which has 18 nationally contracted players 79 first-class contracted players while BCB pays Tk 35,000 as match fees for NCL. 

The players also raised their voice against BCB for dropping the franchises from the upcoming edition of BPL and requested them to reconsider the decision. 

BCB announced earlier that they have decided to drop the franchises from this year’s BPL and retain the ownership of all teams itself.
The decision raised fear among the players that they their payment could get reduced under the new format 

‘’We know the BPL will be held in new rule, which respect, our demand is to restore the original format next year. We also want the wage of local players has to be compatible with foreign players, which we never have seen,’ said wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim 

Players also demanded the resignation of the office bearers of Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh as they believe the organization is not looking after them and it is run unconstitutionally.
National opener Tamim Iqbal citied that discrimination between local and foreign coaches must be reduced and the board should also reconsider the payment of groundsman