Cricket’s Biggest Problem: Why Teams Struggle to Stay Profitable

Cricket’s Biggest Problem: Why Teams Struggle to Stay Profitable

Let’s get one thing straight before we proceed - sports is a business. A big, fast-moving, high-stakes business with thousands of loyal customers chanting your business’s name in a packed stadium while millions do the same at home. Yet, somehow, many cricket teams and leagues aren’t able to capitalize on the astounding amount of craze and commitment from absolute loyal customers year-round.

The keyword here is year-round.

Non-payment to players in sports is not a new story. Unlayering this more, the first ones to take the hit of non-payment are the staff members before the players. Every season, there are murmurs (sometimes outright protests) about unpaid salaries, vanished sponsorships, and teams running on fumes. And it’s not just an issue in smaller leagues or upstart franchises. Even well-known teams have fumbled their finances and made headlines when it comes to inefficient management of cash. Why? Because many of them fail to plan beyond the tournament months.

Think about it this way - what does a successful business do to stay relevant? It doesn’t just wake up in December and say, “Let’s sell stuff for Christmas.” No, it’s planning, strategizing, and executing all year long. Cricket teams are lucky with the fact that their players are superstars. They have their own following and social media craze. Basically, a thriving world of their own. Yet, a massive chunk of this opportunity by the teams is underutilized.

And that’s where the cracks start showing.

The Problem: Why Poor Planning Leads to Empty Pockets

The reality is, non-payment isn’t just a money issue; it’s a planning issue. Yes, cricket, like many other sports, often faces operational challenges deeply rooted in political, bureaucratic, societal, or technical issues. We’re focusing on the micro-environment side of things—elements that a cricket team can fully control. Planning is a key part of it.

Here’s how the cycle repeats itself:

1. Delayed or Unpaid Salaries: Teams run out of cash, players get promises instead of paychecks, and suddenly, social media is filled with frustrated athletes and staff members airing grievances.

2. Unrealistic Budgeting: Teams splash money like there’s no budget, assuming revenue will magically cover the costs. And hey, the hype of the tournament can sometimes lead to this.

3. Overdependence on Sponsors: When the primary sponsor backs out (or doesn’t meet the team’s expectations), there’s no backup plan, and everything collapses. Sponsorships are a good source of income for the team, but not the only one.

4. No Year-Round Plan: Time now to take a long nap, waiting for the next tournament to restart operations. And no, this isn’t just theory, it’s happened time and again.

When Cricket (and Other Sports) Dropped the Ball on Payments

Let’s take a quick world tour of financial mismanagement in sports:

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) – Durbar Rajshahi - 2025

Nepal T20 League - 2023

Indian Premier League - Kochi Tuskers Kerala - 2011

Pakistan Domestic Cricket - 2023

To be fair, non-payment issues have happened in other sporting domains too, such as football. The Jamaican Women’s National Team and Nigeria Women’s National Team are some prominent examples from the past.

We want to emphasize this: the issue isn’t that teams don’t want to pay players. It’s that they haven’t built a system that guarantees payments.** That’s where things need to change.

The Solution: A Three-Step Plan to Avoid Financial Messes

At iCaptain, we’ve been on both sides—running teams, managing leagues, winning championships, and handling everything from player contracts to last-minute crises. We know what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ashik Lama, has himself once said in an interview that he could have been able to save hundreds of thousands of dollars if there was an app (and team) like iCaptain.

With that, here’s how teams can get their financial act together:

The Foundation Phase (Pre-Season Planning)

1. 1. Budget Like You Mean It – Create a realistic budget that covers everything: player salaries, logistics, travel, marketing, operations, even unexpected expenses. No more “We’ll figure it out later.” Later is too late.
2. 2. Diversify Revenue Streams – Stop relying only on sponsors. Merchandise, ticket sales, memberships, media deals—more revenue sources = more financial stability.
3. 3. Lock in Contracts Smartly – Secure player agreements with clear payment terms so players don’t have to beg for their own money.

The Implementation Phase (During the Season)

1. 1. Track Your Spending – If your budget is a Google Doc collecting dust, you’re already in trouble. Monitor cash flow, track expenses, and adjust as needed.
2. 2. Set Up Salary Escrow Accounts – A fancy way of saying: Put the money aside before the season starts. If player payments are secured upfront, there’s no “oops, we ran out” situation.
3. 3. Keep Players in the Loop – Transparency goes a long way. Regular updates for players and staff can prevent frustration and mistrust.

The Evaluation & Adjustment Phase (Post-Season)

1. 1. Audit, Audit, Audit – Where did the money go? Do a full financial review, identify mistakes, and plan for better efficiency next season.
2. 2. Fix What’s Broken – If something didn’t work (overspending, sponsor issues, poor marketing), adjust the strategy before the next season, not during.
3. 3. Stay Active in the Off-Season – Cricket doesn’t stop when the tournament ends. Teams should use this time to build partnerships through social media, plan finances, and stay relevant.

How iCaptain Can Help (Because We’ve Been There)

We’re not here to be the cricket police. But we do have the experience and tools to help teams avoid financial disasters.

1. - Consultation Services – We help teams and leagues build financially sustainable models. No fluff, just real strategies that work.
2. - Technology That Simplifies Operations – Our iCaptain platform makes managing a cricket team easier, more efficient, and financially secure.
3. - A Comprehensive Game Plan That Works – Whether it’s contracts, budgeting, operations, or sponsorship management, we’ve got solutions.

Through our academy portal launching soon, we’re introducing more ways for cricket academies to increase their revenue source. This includes marketplaces, renting, booking, parent engagement, and more.

Final Thoughts: Stop Winging It. Make It Your Business.

As we’ve stated earlier, it’s not like cricket teams don’t have the expertise to pull this off. And it’s not as if cricket teams don’t want to pay the players or even make enough money. This is a planning issue. And, the best thing about plans is that you can start for the future today.

It’s time to rethink your strategy. iCaptain is here to help, through our technology and through our experience in cricket team management.

It’s a business. There’s 12 months of work to be done. It’s time to start treating it like one.