Srinagar, Nov 2, KDC: The privately-run Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) T20 has descended into chaos after organisers allegedly fled to Delhi, leaving nearly 70 players, including several domestic and international cricketers, stranded at a luxury hotel in Srinagar over unpaid dues and pending contracts.
According to players who spoke to Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), the league’s organising body failed to clear contractual payments, prompting players to boycott scheduled matches. The dispute led to the midway cancellation of the tournament, which had been underway at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium.
“The organisers have not paid our agreed amounts. When players refused to continue without payment, they cancelled the matches. We are now being held inside the hotel, unable to leave until dues are cleared,” one stranded player told KDC.
The players, including Faiz Fazal, Iqbal Abdullah, Anupreet Singh, Parveen Kumar, and several others from Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Jammu & Kashmir, are currently housed at the Radisson Collection Hotel in Srinagar. Hotel management has reportedly barred them from leaving until bills are paid, citing heavy outstanding amounts.
Reportedly, few international and outstation players have already left Srinagar, while scores of local players and international players remain stranded at the hotel. Players have been seen waiting in the hotel lobby for updates as uncertainty looms.
Adding to the confusion, an English umpire identified as Allie is also among those stuck. He has reportedly contacted the British Embassy, and, according to players, is even arranging to pay the hotel’s dues to help others check out.
Insiders revealed that the crisis deepened after several team owners and sponsors defaulted on payments, triggering a severe cash crunch. One senior official of the organising body is believed to have flown to Delhi in an attempt to arrange funds, but there has been no communication since.
Former India cricketer Surinder Khanna, who was listed as a member of the IHPL’s managing committee, is reportedly not in Srinagar. Sources suggest he may have anticipated the financial trouble early and distanced himself from the league.
The IHPL T20 had been marketed as a platform to promote sports tourism and nurture cricketing talent in Jammu and Kashmir, but the event’s legitimacy is now in question. The tournament is neither sanctioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
Cricket analysts say the fiasco highlights a recurring problem in India’s unregulated private leagues, which promise lucrative returns and exposure but often collapse due to poor financial planning and lack of accountability.
“This episode exposes how unsanctioned leagues exploit players’ aspirations without any legal or financial safeguards,” said a former J&K Ranji player, noting that former cricketer Adil Reshi had previously warned of irregularities in the IHPL. (KDC)
