As you discovered, the version in experimental works. Unfortunately, googleplay-api (which gplaycli uses) has a strict dependency on newer versions of protobuf, which are available only in experimental. So we've been stuck waiting on protobuf 3.6 to transition to unstable. It is not the only package stuck waiting on protobuf to transition. See https://bugs.debian.org/901015 for transition status.
- Bug#903718: gplaycli currently unusable in stable/backport/... Lee Garrett
- Bug#903718: gplaycli currently unusable in stable/back... Matlink
- Bug#903718: gplaycli currently unusable in stable/back... Andres Salomon