Bangladesh’s cricketers are in for a financial windfall as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced significant increases in salaries and match fees—despite the team’s recent lacklustre performances on the field.

The decision, finalised during a meeting on Monday, underscores the BCB’s efforts to incentivize players, particularly those committed to Test cricket, even as concerns linger over their stagnating results.

Following the meeting, BCB Director and Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, confirmed the development but remained tight-lipped about specifics.

“Salaries are up, and so are match fees,” Fahim told reporters, offering little clarity on the quantum of the hikes or how many players would benefit.

However, he emphasised that Test players received a more substantial boost. “We’re prioritizing Test specialists—we want to nurture their passion for the longer format,” he explained.

Fahim hinted at a broader rethink in the pay structure, signalling a renewed focus on red-ball cricket. The traditional tiered system—categorizing players into A, B, C, D, and E levels—is making a comeback, replacing the previous bifurcation between white-ball and red-ball contracts.

In a notable twist, even players who exclusively feature in Test cricket could now qualify for the top-tier A category, ensuring they are adequately compensated for their commitment to the five-day game.

The move comes amid growing concerns about the dwindling appeal of Test cricket among players, many of whom gravitate toward shorter formats like T20s for quicker rewards and global exposure.

By sweetening the deal for Test specialists, the BCB hopes to rekindle interest in the format and retain talent willing to grind through the rigors of red-ball cricket.

“It’s about providing financial security,” Fahim elaborated, adding that the board aims to strike a balance between rewarding short-format stars and enriching Test loyalists. While no concrete figures have been disclosed yet, sources suggest the raises are weighted heavily in favour of Test players—a deliberate effort to elevate their status and keep them invested in the format.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. On one hand, it’s a morale booster for players who’ve long argued for better compensation.

On the other, critics question whether raising salaries without addressing performance issues is a sustainable strategy.

Bangladesh’s recent record across formats has been underwhelming, with inconsistent performances failing to inspire confidence.

The absence of hard numbers adds to the ambiguity. While Fahim assured reporters that the new structure is “approved and locked,” he admitted that some figures might still shift after internal reviews. “There’s a number, but it’s subject to change,” he teased, leaving fans and analysts guessing about the exact scale of the hikes. Under the old system, top-tier players earned a respectable income, but whispers suggest this revision could tilt the scales significantly in favour of Test players.

The BCB’s decision reflects a calculated bet on the power of financial incentives to reignite motivation within the squad.

By prioritising Test cricket and offering lucrative contracts to its proponents, the board is attempting to reverse the format’s declining popularity and ensure Bangladesh remains competitive in the longest version of the game.

However, questions remain. Will the extra taka translate into tangible improvements on the field? Or will the move be seen as a mere band-aid solution, masking deeper systemic issues? For now, the promise of higher pay checks hangs in the air—a morale booster for players but an unproven remedy for a team that has struggled to find consistency.

As the BCB finalises the details, all eyes will be on Bangladesh’s cricketers to see if the revamped pay structure can spark the fire the team desperately needs. The scoreboard, for now, remains silent—but the stakes have never been higher.