BPL Needs to Improve Standards to Attract Foreign Cricketers: Lisa Sthalekar

Lisa Sthalekar, former Australian women's cricketer and president of the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), has emphasized the need for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to improve its standards to attract foreign cricketers. Speaking at an event in Mirpur, Sthalekar highlighted the importance of addressing payment disputes and fixing issues that have plagued the tournament.

According to a recent assessment by the WCA, the BPL ranks at the bottom of 10 T20 tournaments with 22.6 points, far behind The Hundred (75.2 points) and the South African T20 (68 points). The Indian Premier League (IPL) is third with 62.6 points. Sthalekar urged the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) to collaborate with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to ensure a fresh start for the BPL.

"What the World Cricketers' Association does is almost a traffic-light system of all the T20 leagues around the world. It's to help players, administrators, and agents understand what the issues have been and what the successful aspects of each T20 league are," Sthalekar said.

She noted that the BPL currently has a low rating on the WCA's system and encouraged the new CWAB administration to work with the BCB to improve the tournament's reputation among overseas players. "If you look at the BPL, its traffic light doesn't have a lot of green, unfortunately," Sthalekar remarked, adding that the CWAB has a significant role to play in addressing payment issues.

Sthalekar expressed confidence in the new CWAB administration, stating that they are learning and will improve over time. She also mentioned that Mithun, the president of the CWAB, will be attending a WCA board meeting in London, which will provide him with valuable insights into players' associations and global programs.

"A professional cricketer, if they've gone out and played cricket and done their job, should be paid for it," Sthalekar emphasized. She believes that if the system and structure have put frameworks and contracts in place, they should be honored.

"These are new administrators who are learning about a players' association, what it can do, and how they can be the voice of professional cricketers in Bangladesh," she added.

The WCA operates at a higher level, assisting players during ICC events, while the responsibility for domestic cricket lies with the players' associations in each country. Sthalekar hopes that the collaboration between CWAB and BCB will lead to a stronger and more prosperous BPL, drawing on Bangladesh's recent successes in international cricket.