Brothers Union conceded a walkover against Agrani Bank in their Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match, the country's premier List A competition, at BKSP on Friday over unpaid dues.

The match never got underway after Brothers Union players refused to take the field despite arriving at the venue, prompting match officials to award the points to Agrani Bank.

For the past few seasons, Brothers Union players have repeatedly raised payment-related issues with the BCB. While partial payments have occasionally been made, a long-term solution has never been found.

Brothers Union captain Zahiduzzaman did not turn up for the toss despite match referee Enayet Chowdhury being present in the middle, forcing umpires Moniruzzaman and Shaheen Shareef to declare the unusual result.

Sohag Gazi, the former Bangladesh international and a current member of the Brothers Union squad, said the boycott was the players' last resort after repeated attempts to resolve the payment dispute with club officials failed.

"It is purely a payment issue. There is nothing else. We were forced into this at the last moment. We gave them time, spoke with them and went wherever we needed to go. Having exhausted all options, all the players collectively made this decision," Sohag said.

"They paid the first 20 percent before the opening match and fulfilled that commitment. But the next 30 percent was supposed to be paid before Eid. Eid passed, then the days after Eid passed, and we still did not receive a single taka," he said.

"We have families too. We have to survive and support them. Many players could not pay their house rent. Some could not buy groceries. Even if the club paid what was agreed in the contracts, players could at least manage rent and support their families," Sohag added.

He also alleged that before Eid, players were left waiting for hours in the hope of receiving their dues, only to be handed small amounts ranging from Tk 6,000 to Tk 35,000.

"Players first went to the club and later waited outside an official's house for nearly three hours. You cannot celebrate Eid with that. Around 25 to 30 families could not enjoy Eid properly," he said.

"Everyone knew players were accepting lower amounts this year. Nobody was forced. We agreed because the club also committed to paying us. But after the first installment there were only delays after delays," he added.

The players also sought assistance from the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), but Sohag claimed the issue remained unresolved.

"We informed CWAB and they told us they had taken steps. But even then the club did not give the matter any importance," he said.

"The message we got was: play if you want, don't play if you don't. If the team goes down, that's not a problem. If that's the attitude, then there is not much left to discuss," he added.

According to Clause 16.15.2 of the DPL by-laws, a team that concedes a walkover in a match "will be considered as one of the relegated team" from the competition. The team must also return the financial grant it received from the BCB, in addition to paying a fine of BDT 20,000 (approximately USD 162).

The repercussions extend further, with all runs scored and wickets taken by the team's players set to be removed from the tournament statistics, as per the competition's by-laws.