Taskin Ahmed is the sole cricketer to be awarded a Grade A+ contract by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for 2025. The BCB has transitioned back to a grade-based salary structure for its player contracts, moving away from the format-based system used in recent years. This change aims to better compensate Test cricket specialists.
Under the new contract system, Taskin Ahmed will receive a monthly salary of BDT 1 million (approximately USD 8,200). Last year, his contract was in the white-ball format category.
Sources indicate that the BCB’s decision to revert to grade-based contracts is specifically designed to benefit players who specialize in Test cricket. The previous format-based policy was found to be inadequate in fairly rewarding Test cricketers. Najmul Abedeen Fahim, chairman of BCB’s cricket operations, stated that the new central contracts are intended to properly recognize Test specialists.
Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, is included in Grade A, along with three other players. Players in Grade A will earn BDT 800,000 (around USD 6,600) per month. It’s noteworthy that the captain is placed in the second-highest grade, as traditionally, captains usually receive the top-tier contract.
Mushfiqur Rahim is also listed in Grade A. However, following his ODI retirement, he will be moved to Grade B, where the monthly salary is BDT 600,000 (approximately USD 4,900).
Fast bowler Nahid Rana has been promoted to Grade B after a strong performance in 2024. He is one of four new players to receive BCB central contracts. The other newcomers are Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan, and Rishad Hossain, all placed in Grade C with a monthly salary of BDT 400,000 (about USD 3,300).
The BCB’s press release mentioned that Mahmudullah, who recently turned 39, had requested not to be considered for a central contract after February 2025.
Soumya Sarkar and Shadman Islam are returning to the BCB central contracts list for the first time since 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Several players who held contracts last year are not included in the current list, including Shakib Al Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Naeem Hasan, and Nurul Hasan.
Bangladesh Central Contracts for 2025
Grade A+: Taskin Ahmed
Grade A: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim
Grade B: Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana
Grade C: Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Mahedi Hasan
Grade D: Nasum Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed
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