In a landmark first decision since taking charge, the newly formed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ad-hoc committee, led by Tamim Iqbal, has announced a sweeping pay rise for domestic cricketers on Thursday.

The move particularly addresses the long-standing financial disparity faced by female players, whose previous match fees the new board chief described as "shocking."

Prior to this intervention, women in the domestic circuit were reportedly earning a mere BDT 1,000 (approximately USD 8) for one-day competitions.

Under the newly approved structure, these fees have been significantly overhauled: women will now receive BDT 10,000 for T20s, BDT 15,000 for 50-over matches, and BDT 20,000 for first-class games.

Furthermore, the monthly retainer for the top 36 domestic female players has been increased from BDT 30,000 to BDT 40,000.

Addressing the sudden hike, Tamim Iqbal noted, "This may not be ideal, but it is certainly an improvement, considering there are limits to how much can be increased at once."

The men's domestic circuit, which had seen stagnant wages for the last several years, also received a substantial boost.

First-class match fees for men have been raised from BDT 70,000 to BDT 100,000.

Additionally, the monthly salary brackets have been restructured, with Category A players now earning BDT 65,000, while Category B and C players will receive BDT 50,000 and BDT 40,000 respectively.

"I think the players were highly underpaid in the previous salary structure," Tamim remarked during the announcement.

"These players work hard, and cricket exists because of their efforts. At the very least, they deserve fair compensation."

These financial reforms are set to be applied retroactively, coming into effect from January 1, 2026.

Following the resolution of the pay structure, the 11-member ad-hoc committee is now focusing on resolving the ongoing stalemate with local clubs to facilitate the start of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League in the coming weeks.

Category	Previous Rate (BDT)	New Rate (BDT)
Men's First-Class Match Fee	70,000	100,000
Women's One-Day Match Fee	1,000	15,000
Women's T20 Match Fee	-	10,000
Men's Monthly Salary (Cat A)	-	65,000
Women's Top Monthly Salary	30,000	40,000