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I got half my pay: Pont

Dhaka might've boycotted BPL semi

Sports Reporter
Bangladesh Premier League's payment issue has brought on fresh controversy after Ian Pont claimed that he is yet to be paid half his payments by Dhaka Gladiators, the franchise he coached during the inaugural edition. The allegation comes two days after the six franchises missed their latest deadline, July21, to complete all payments.
“I am personally missing 50 per cent of my contracted amount and others are still awaiting re-imbursement of flights, expenses and original fees," Pont wrote in an email to The Daily Star Sport yesterday. "Pieces of paper kept being produced showing bank transfers by the franchise, but they never took place. Players and staff have been given a whole host of excuses. Deadlines and promises remain broken."
"The franchise, run by the Chowdhury family, has just stopped communicating. It's not only very sad but totally unprofessional to run a business this way in my view," he added.
Gazi Ashraf Hossain, chairman of the BPL governing council, however said that Pont, as
the highest-paid coach in the competition, received the payment in full, though he wasn't aware of any other clauses in his contract.
“As far as I know, he was the highest paid coach in the tournament and already got full payment of 20,000 dollars," said Ashraf. "I don't know if there was a promise of any additional amount in the contract. If such a thing exists, I will still say that our priorities are player payments and tax issues. We will look into his claim afterwards."
In response Pont wrote, "I don’t really wish to talk about specific sums as they are and should be private. I can confirm that I have received half the amount stated in my contract. I don't get the obsession with the amounts. If someone is owed a dollar, they are owed money. Had I wished my private finances discussed, I would have put the figures. I was careful not to as this is confidential information."
Ashraf was however disappointed with the irregular payments after the franchises missed yet another deadline, by which time the BPL would complete the franchises' contract formalities with Game On Sports as well. Despite such indifference, Ashraf was willing to be even more patient.
"We are a little frustrated with the payment issue. It would be nice for us if we could finish the inaugural tournament without any controversies, but still we have five months in hand before the next event to solve all the issues," he said.
"We have got verbal assurance from some franchises. Actually most of the franchises are now focusing on the revenue issue. You know a huge financial deal was involved in the event, so it's not unlikely that they
face some setback. I think we are in a learning process which will help us to arrange the next edition smoothly.
When asked about whether they will take any tough actions against the franchise which failed to settle the issue, Ashraf said: "The governing council will review all the things before taking any action. We hope the franchises can understand everything, so we are not in hurry."
Pont has also claimed that Dhaka Gladiators' players were willing to boycott their semifinal against Khulna Royal Bengals as
they were not receiving fees from the owners.
"The overseas players came to me and we had an emergency meeting where it was felt that boycotting the semifinal was a genuine option. So much money was missing that the guys didn't know what else they could try. But the players did not want to let the BPL down or the fans, which was the right thing to do," he revealed.
"I am amazed we remained focused enough to win the whole competition and it's a testament to the players -- overseas and local — when the only talk was
about payments. It was hard to concentrate on the cricket with such an enormous distraction. After all, this is not simply a game for the players and staff, but it is their living."
Pont added that he'd like to work in the BPL but is willing to quit the Dhaka franchise.
"I anticipate returning to hopefully win the BPL again. It just won't be with the Shihab Trading Company's franchise. The fact is you cannot have players worrying if they are going to get their money. It just sends the wrong message," he said.