On the eve of the Eid festival, the BCB on Thursday (May 21) handed over financial aid to 1,600 cricketers, playing in the Dhaka metropolis cricket leagues, but not under BCB contract.

The cricketers of Dhaka Premier Division and First Division leagues received Tk 10,000 each while the cricketers of the 2nd and 3rd Division leagues got Tk 8,000 each.

However, BCB will not include the national cricketers and the cricketers who have contracts with the board.

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “The board president earlier directed us to help cricketers who are not in any contract with BCB. We are able to help the cricketers before Eid. The amount might not be a big one, but we are happy to provide it before Eid.”

Earlier, the BCB provided financial support to 96 first-class cricketers and female cricketers. They got Tk 30,000 and Tk 20,000 respectively.

On May 20, the BCB also came forward to support the sportsmen of the 23 sports federations of the country except cricket in  the present crisis situation caused by the outbreak of coronavirus.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan on Wednesday handed over 501 cheques of Tk 10,000 each to State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell as part of the BCB's initiative to support sportspersons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cheques were distributed among sportsmen and women of 23 sports federations under the National Sports Council other than cricket.