Players left in limbo as organisers flee without warning
A private T20 cricket league featuring big international names like Chris Gayle and Jesse Ryder has ended in complete disarray in Srinagar, as organisers vanished overnight without paying players, officials, or hotel bills. The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), promoted by the Mohali-based Yuva Society, began with promise at Bakshi Stadium on October 25 but was abruptly abandoned just days before its scheduled end.
Dozens of players and umpires were left stranded after finding no organisers present when they arrived for matches. Hotel staff later informed participants that bills had not been cleared and the organisers had disappeared. A senior officer told NDTV that an inquiry into the matter may be launched, and police have already filed a First Information Report.
Unpaid dues, confusion at hotels and mounting frustration
With calls to the organisers going unanswered and players unable to leave their hotels due to unpaid dues, the situation quickly escalated. Umpire Mellissa Juniper, who travelled from England to officiate, described the state of affairs in blunt terms.
“The organisers have not paid anyone. The league management is not answering calls and has disappeared. Hotels too haven’t been paid. The management fled late last night without informing anyone, leaving the players behind,” she told mediapersons.
Juniper played a crucial role in resolving the immediate crisis, helping players reach an agreement with hotel authorities.
“We have come to an agreement with the hotel management to allow the players to return home with their families. Around 40 players are in the hotel, they have not been paid, and it is not fair for them to stay away from their families,” she said, as quoted by NDTV.
Separately, NDTV reported that Parvez Rasool, the only Indian international cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir, revealed that some overseas players were temporarily not allowed to leave their hotels until the issue was escalated to foreign diplomatic channels.
Empty stands, slashed ticket prices and financial collapse
Despite featuring globally recognised players, the league failed to attract significant local attendance. Organisers had hoped for crowds of up to 30,000, but actual turnout was poor, even after tickets were reduced to just ₹90 (approx. US$ 1.02).
“They had made massive arrangements for the cricket league, but it failed because of very poor attendance,” said a local player, as quoted by NDTV.
The lack of revenue quickly led to broader financial issues. A team staff member shared that the income generated couldn’t cover the league’s high expenses.
“They couldn’t get the response they were expecting from the league. It turned out to be a financial loss for them,” said the team member, as quoted by The Tribune India.
Several players met with the organisers on Saturday night to demand their dues. The talks broke down, and players decided not to continue. The next morning, they discovered the organisers had already left the city.
“On Sunday morning, everyone was shocked to learn that the organisers had reportedly left without clearing the dues,” the team member added, as quoted by The Tribune India.
Police begin investigation, political anger erupts
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a formal investigation. “We have filed a case for breach of trust and cheating. Investigations are underway,” a senior police officer told The Tribune India.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council distanced itself from the fiasco, stating that it had only provided the venue and was not involved in organising the event.
The incident drew sharp criticism from political leaders. BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur condemned the organisers, calling the event a disgrace.
“This entire episode reeks of mismanagement, deceit and possible fraud,” Thakur said, as quoted by The Tribune India.
He also questioned how such a large-scale event was held at a government-owned stadium without proper clearance. “How was such a mega event allowed inside a government-owned facility without proper consent and approval? Was the Sports Minister unaware of this? If permission was not granted, then who allowed the organisers to occupy Bakshi Stadium?” he added, as quoted by The Tribune India.
Embassies alerted as players try to leave; Gayle exited early
Following media coverage, a foreign embassy in New Delhi raised the issue with Indian authorities, prompting a more active response from local administration, according to The Tribune India.
Hindustan Times reported that approximately 40 players and officials were left stranded in hotels without clear instructions, while the organisers remained unreachable. In the same report, it was noted that Chris Gayle had checked out of his hotel a day earlier.
Only 13 matches were completed during the tournament, the last of which featured an 88-run knock from Gayle in front of mostly empty stands. With no official communication from the organisers and investigations ongoing, the IHPL’s collapse has raised significant concerns around the vetting of privately-run cricket leagues in India.
