Reports | Mashrafe Mortaza to mediate between Bangladesh Players and BCB

According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, the conflict between Bangladesh cricketers and the Bangladesh Cricket Board might come to an end quickly, with the players reportedly all set to meet BCB officials today (October 23). 

"After the media conference last evening, I spoke to a senior player who told me that they would get back to us at any time after discussing among themselves. We expect to sit with them at 5 pm  today," ESPN Cricinfo quoted BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury saying so in a press briefing at noon.

The report also claims that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina has taken special interest in the matter and has also asked Mashrafe Mortaza, who led the team in 2019 World Cup, to mediate between the parties and bring out a positive outcome. 

"She wanted to know the latest about cricket's situation. Then she asked Mashrafe to tell the players to return to the field," the report quoted BCB director Mahbubul Anam as saying.

The strike has cast a cloud of doubt around the upcoming India tour of Bangladesh which is supposed to start from November 3, but on Tuesday (October 22), the BCB agreed to one of the players' major demands to revert back to the club transfer system of the Dhaka Premier League. 

The other demands of players include a hike in pay of local players in the BPL, the return of the franchise-based format of the BPL, hike in central contract salary and most importantly, scrapping the conflict of interest rule from the players' association.