Brothers Union concede walkover over unpaid dues

Brothers Union conceded a walkover against Agrani Bank in their Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match at BKSP on Friday over unpaid dues.
The match never got underway after Brothers Union players refused to take the field despite arriving at the venue, prompting match officials to award the points to Agrani Bank, reports Cricbuzz.
For the past few seasons, Brothers Union players have repeatedly raised payment-related issues with the BCB. While partial payments have occasionally been made, a long-term solution has never been found.
Brothers Union captain Zahiduzzaman did not turn up for the toss despite match referee Enayet Chowdhury being present in the middle, forcing umpires Moniruzzaman and Shaheen Shareef to declare the unusual result.
Sohag Gazi, the former Bangladesh international and a current member of the Brothers Union squad, said the boycott was the players' last resort after repeated attempts to resolve the payment dispute with club officials failed.
"It is purely a payment issue. There is nothing else. We were forced into this at the last moment. We gave them time, spoke with them and went wherever we needed to go. Having exhausted all options, all the players collectively made this decision," Sohag said.
"They paid the first 20 percent before the opening match and fulfilled that commitment. But the next 30 percent was supposed to be paid before Eid. Eid passed, then the days after Eid passed, and we still did not receive a single taka," he said.
"We have families too. We have to survive and support them. Many players could not pay their house rent. Some could not buy groceries. Even if the club paid what was agreed in the contracts, players could at least manage rent and support their families," Sohag added.
He also alleged that before Eid, players were left waiting for hours in the hope of receiving their dues, only to be handed small amounts ranging from Tk 6,000 to Tk 35,000.
bdnews24.com Bangla adds, Amin Khan, manager of Brothers Union, could not be reached for a comment on the matter when contacted by phone and WhatsApp.
The league's organiser, Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM), claims that it has not yet officially learned anything about the salary issue behind the boycott of Brothers Union. CCDM Coordinator Mohammad Salim said, "Brothers have refused to play. I still do not know why they have refused."
The issue of Brothers Union's salary has been a regular occurrence with cricketers of the team writing to BCB and CCDM at the end of every season complaining about not receiving their salaries. The cricketers have complained about not receiving their salaries at various times before the media.