The much-hyped Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), which began in Srinagar with international stars like Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, and Thisara Perera, has ended in controversy and chaos. What started as a glamorous T20 tournament soon turned into a scandal after organisers reportedly fled without paying players, umpires, and hotel bills — leaving dozens stranded and unpaid.
A Promising Start That Ended in Disaster
The IHPL 2025 was launched on October 25 at the Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, with eight regional teams and over 70 Indian and foreign players.
The league was promoted by a Mohali-based NGO, Yuva Society, led by Parminder Singh and Nirmal Sidhu.
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IHPL 2025 Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 25 Oct – 8 Nov 2025 (abandoned midway) |
| Venue | Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar |
| Organiser | Yuva Society, Mohali |
| Top Players | Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, Thisara Perera, Praveen Kumar |
| Matches Held | 12 completed, remaining abandoned |
| Main Issue | Non-payment, organisers absconded |
| Legal Status | FIR filed, investigation ongoing |
| Recognition | Not approved by BCCI or JKCA |
Participating Teams:
| Team Name | Region Represented |
|---|---|
| Gulmarg Royal | Gulmarg |
| Jammu Lions | Jammu |
| Uri Panthers | Uri |
| Ladakh Heroes | Ladakh |
| Srinagar Sultan | Srinagar |
| Patnitop Warriors | Patnitop |
| Pulwama Titans | Pulwama |
| Kishtwar Giants | Kishtwar |
Initially, the tournament promised to promote tourism and sports in Kashmir with high-profile players and celebrity appearances. Matches featured music, LED displays, and star promotions, but soon cracks began to show.
The Collapse: When Organisers Vanished Overnight
By November 2, the entire event collapsed. Players were informed of “technical issues,” and matches from November 1 onwards were either cancelled or abandoned. The organisers reportedly left Srinagar overnight, leaving behind unpaid hotel bills and stranded participants.
Key Events in the IHPL Scandal:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 25 | Tournament began with much fanfare at Bakshi Stadium |
| Oct 25–31 | 12 matches completed successfully |
| Nov 1–2 | Players refused to play due to unpaid dues |
| Nov 2 night | Organisers reportedly fled Srinagar |
| Nov 3–5 | All remaining matches cancelled |
| Nov 4 | Police registered FIR; investigation began |
Players and Umpires Left Stranded
International cricketers including Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, and Thisara Perera were part of the tournament. Gayle reportedly left Kashmir a day before the scandal broke, while others like Melissa Juniper, an English umpire, confirmed that no payments were made to players, umpires, or hotel staff.
The hotel management stated that over 150 rooms were booked by the organisers in the Rajbagh area, but payments were never cleared.
As a result, many players and staff were temporarily stopped from leaving until the matter reached local authorities and foreign embassies intervened.
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Not Recognised by BCCI or JKCA
One of the biggest revelations was that the IHPL had no approval or recognition from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) or the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
JKCA clarified that it had no direct or indirect role in the event and that the organisers never sought permission to host such a large-scale tournament.
Political and Public Reactions
The incident sparked outrage in Kashmir’s sports community.
Local cricketers like Waseem Andrabi and Hilal Khande expressed deep disappointment, saying such scams could damage Kashmir’s image as a safe and emerging sports hub.
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur called the incident a “shame for Kashmir’s sports fraternity” and demanded a high-level investigation, while PDP leader Mohammad Rafiq Rathar accused the government of negligence and demanded the resignation of the Sports Minister Satish Sharma for allowing the event without proper verification.
The Police Investigation
The Jammu & Kashmir Police have registered an FIR against the organisers, and an investigation is underway to track down those responsible. Reports suggest that millions of rupees in payments are pending for players, hotel owners, caterers, ground staff, and vendors.
The government has also promised strict action against those involved and aims to restore Kashmir’s credibility as a host for genuine sporting events.
Impact on Kashmir’s Sports Image
The IHPL scam has come as a major setback for Kashmir’s growing reputation in hosting national-level sporting events.
In recent years, tournaments like the Chinar Premier League and General Bipin Rawat Memorial Cup were successfully organised, showing Kashmir’s potential. However, this fraud has raised doubts among international players and sponsors about participating in future events.
Local players have urged authorities to screen private organisers thoroughly before allowing them to host large tournaments.
Conclusion
The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) started with grand dreams of promoting cricket and tourism in Kashmir but ended as a cautionary tale of mismanagement, fraud, and broken promises.
What was meant to be a celebration of cricket turned into an embarrassment for everyone involved — a reminder that transparency, proper governance, and official oversight are crucial for sustaining sports integrity in India
The IHPL scandal stands as a lesson for the sports ecosystem in India — enthusiasm and glamour must always be matched with credibility, contracts, and compliance to prevent such incidents from tarnishing the spirit of the game.
