Taskin Ahmed is the only cricketer to be awarded a Grade A+ contract by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for 2025. The BCB has returned to a grade-based system for player salaries, moving away from format-based contracts used in recent years. This change is intended to better compensate Test match specialists.
Under the new structure, Taskin Ahmed will receive BDT 1 million (approximately USD 8,200) per month. Last year, his contract was in the white-ball format category.
Sources indicate that the BCB’s decision to revert to grade-based contracts aims to fairly reward players who specialize in Test cricket. The previous format-based system struggled to adequately compensate Test cricketers.
Najmul Abedeen Fahim, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman, stated after a recent board meeting that the new central contracts would prioritize rewarding Test specialists.
Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, is among four players in Grade A. Grade A contracts come with a monthly salary of BDT 800,000 (approximately USD 6,600). It’s notable that the captain is placed in the second-highest grade, as typically captains receive the top-tier contract.
Mushfiqur Rahim is also listed in Grade A, but his recent ODI retirement will result in a move to Grade B, where the monthly salary is BDT 600,000 (approximately USD 4,900).
Fast bowler Nahid Rana’s strong performance in 2024 has earned him a Grade B contract. He is one of four new players to receive a central contract, alongside Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan, and Rishad Hossain, all of whom are placed in Grade C with a monthly salary of BDT 400,000 (approximately USD 3,300).
The BCB’s press release mentioned that Mahmudullah, who recently turned 39, requested not to be considered for a central contract after February 2025.
Soumya Sarkar and Shadman Islam are returning to the BCB’s central contracts for the first time since 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Shakib Al Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Naeem Hasan, and Nurul Hasan, who held contracts last year, are not included in this year’s list.
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
