Srinagar, Nov 03: The much-hyped Indian Heaven Premier League, a glitzy T20 carnival intended to showcase international cricket in Jammu and Kashmir, has collapsed in dramatic fashion. The organisers reportedly fled Srinagar under the cover of night, leaving behind unpaid bills, bewildered players, and frustrated hotel staff.
What was billed as a grand sporting spectacle featuring global icons like Chris Gayle of the West Indies, New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder, and Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera turned into an embarrassing fiasco. The tournament, spearheaded by the Yuva Society in association with the J&K Cricket Association, promised to fuse youth development with high-profile cricket. By Sunday morning, however, the Bakshi Stadium stood deserted, a stark contrast to the fanfare of its opening days.
Around forty players found themselves stranded in local hotels without payment or direction. “The organisers have fled from the hotel,” lamented English umpire Mellissa Juniper. “Neither the players, the umpires, nor the hotel staff have been paid. We’ve managed to reach an understanding with the hotel so that players can finally return home. It’s heartbreaking to see professionals treated this way.”
At The Residency Hotel, which accommodated most of the participants, a senior official confirmed that the organisers had booked roughly 150 rooms, promising a tourism boost for Kashmir through the star-studded league. “They spoke of Chris Gayle and global exposure for the Valley,” the official said. “But by Sunday, they had vanished without settling dues. Some international players, including Gayle, checked out a day earlier.”
Former India all-rounder Parvez Rasool, who featured in the competition, said several players were prevented from leaving until diplomatic channels intervened. “One of the English officials had to seek help from the British embassy,” Rasool revealed.
Local players expressed disappointment and disbelief. “We were excited to share a dressing room with legends,” said one Kashmiri cricketer. “But the organisers clearly underestimated the costs. Sponsors backed out, crowds were thin, and by the second day, it was obvious they were running out of funds. There were no uniforms initially—they had to buy them locally. No contracts were signed either.”
A senior official from the J&K Sports Council maintained that the government had no organisational role. “IHPL president Ashu Dani obtained police clearance and paid the requisite fees,” he said. “Beyond that, the government wasn’t involved. We don’t know what went wrong.”
However, an earlier press release dated October 22 suggested official engagement. Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg had chaired a preparatory meeting forecasting a turnout of nearly 30,000 spectators at Bakshi Stadium.
The IHPL, announced on September 18, had been projected as a platform to nurture grassroots talent, empower local youth, and promote sports tourism. Former India wicketkeeper Surinder Khanna, serving as the league’s mentor, described it as “a golden opportunity for Kashmir’s youth” and expressed hope of discovering the next Umran Malik or Parvez Rasool.
The tournament boasted a line-up of 32 former international stars, yet only Chris Gayle’s appearances drew sizeable crowds. Thisara Perera featured briefly, while Richard Levi of South Africa and Oman’s Ayan Khan also took the field before the event unravelled.
Scheduled to run from October 23 to November 7 with eight mixed teams of domestic and overseas players, the league quickly lost momentum. Sparse crowds persisted even after ticket prices were cut, and with sponsors withdrawing, the finances crumbled. By the weekend, the glittering dream of international cricket in the Valley had dissolved—along with its elusive organisers.
Repeated attempts to contact Surinder Khanna and Divisional Commissioner Garg went unanswered.
