Mushfiqur wants more benefits for Tigers

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim has said that the national players deserve more in terms of financial benefits, an issue he said they have already raised with the cricket board and to which they were expecting a resolution soon.

"Both the clubs and the national side should take care of us and they do that. We stay busy with the national team for eight to 10 months a year. If the national players could play in the BPL and Dhaka League, we could get more financial benefits," the 28-year-old wicket-keeper batsman told reporters after signing for the Legends of Rupganj for the upcoming Dhaka Premier League yesterday.

The contracts for the players of the national side expired last Decemeber and they are yet to be renewed. The players held discussions with the board on the tour of Sri Lanka, making their demands clear. According to sources, the players are unhappy with the salary they are being paid, and they have not been paid in the last two to three months due to the ongoing negotiations.

"We play for the national team more for pride. If the benefit for playing in the national team could have been a bit more, it would have helped. Many of us have been playing for the national side for 10-11 years, and still feel that we don't have a lot of things. We have appealed to the board and surely they will look into that," Mushfiqur said.

Although the transfers concluded on March 18, the players bracketed in the national pool were on tour during that time and hence were given the option to sign for their desired teams upon return.

Mushfiqur will be playing alongside Mashrafe Bin Mortaza -- who had signed with Rupganj before leaving for Sri Lanka -- in the country's most coveted 50-over competition, which is scheduled to start from April 12.

"Maybe this is my first time with Mashrafe bhai, but I will try and make the tournament memorable," Mushfiqur said.

"There is a new challenge every year. The club has a target and players also have a target. The clubs which I had played for before had become champions and although our team is not as strong as some of the others, if the seniors and juniors can perform together then I hope we can expect a good result."

When asked about the national team's busy schedule ahead -- the Tigers will be travelling to England on April 26 ahead of a tri-nation series in Ireland -- the Test skipper said: "This year the national team does not have many gaps, so we will have to manage. But I still believe that you have to play international cricket alongside domestic cricket.

"Many players may not be able to take part in the whole tournament due to international commitments, but those that will be playing should be giving their best. We should be playing consistent cricket for the clubs like we do for the national side," he added.