BCB plans to increase facilities for Women cricketers

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a decision to increase all kind of facilities for Women cricketers to gradually bring them closer to the national team in term of financial status.

In a landmark decision, the board plans to increase the number of players under contract in the pool of women cricketers.

Around 25 cricketers are under contract in the national pool and the BCB will extend that it by introducing first-class contracts for 30 more players, much like the model for the men in the country's cricketing structure, reports BSS.

Apart from it, the women cricketers will now be receiving performance-based bonuses just like the male cricketers. 

"There are central contracts in place for the women cricketers in the national pool. In addition to that, we will bring in 30 more cricketers under contract," BCB president Faruque Ahmed said here today after a Board of Directors' meeting.

"There are contracts for men cricketers who play in the national league. We'll replicate that model in Women cricketers' case."

Introducing winning bonus is a giant stride to make the women's team almost equal to men's team.

"The new thing is that we have set a winning bonus for the women cricketers and in this case we also follow the model, that is being followed for the male cricketers," Faruque said.

"Winning bonus is a ranking-based system, you all know. If they beat the top three-ranked sides, there is a certain amount that is given as a bonus and if they beat four, five and six-ranked sides, the amount is different. It will be the same for the women. The amount will be different between the men and women but they (Women's team) will get a bonus."

The BCB boss also announced a reward for Bangladesh Under-19 team which won the ACC U-19 Men's Asia Cup earlier this month, beating India. The reward will see, each members including officials and coaching staff, receive Tk 300,000.