The Indian Heavens Premier League (IHPL), held in the scenic region of Kashmir, has turned into a logistical and financial nightmare for some of world cricket’s biggest stars, including Chris Gayle and Thisara Perera. The tournament organisers reportedly left Srinagar abruptly without settling hotel bills or paying players and match officials.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was also scheduled to participate in the tournament. A video posted on the league’s official Instagram page on 15 October showed Shakib confirming his participation, although it remains unclear if he eventually played.
The incident occurred in Srinagar, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The eight-team tournament had commenced on 25 October and was scheduled to conclude on 8 November. However, on Saturday morning, players were informed that the day’s matches were cancelled due to “technical reasons.” The following day, those still in the hotel discovered that the organisers had vacated Srinagar overnight.
Hotel officials confirmed that they had not received any payment from the organisers. Around 40 players and officials were stranded at the hotel during this period.
According to reports in the Times of India, Melissa Juniper, an official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) who was umpiring at the tournament, said, “The organisers have fled from the hotel. They have not paid for the hotel, the players, or the umpires. We reached an understanding with the hotel management so everyone could leave safely.”
A senior hotel official in Srinagar stated, “The organisers requested 150 rooms for players ten days in advance. They had claimed that stars like Chris Gayle would boost tourism in Kashmir. But on Sunday morning, they were nowhere to be seen. They didn’t pay our bills either. Several players, including Gayle, had already left the hotel on Saturday.”
Besides Gayle, the tournament featured Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera, New Zealand’s Jessie Ryder, South Africa’s Richard Levi, and Oman’s Ayan Khan. Promotional posters on social media also prominently featured Shakib Al Hasan.
Former Indian cricketer Parvez Rasool, who participated in the tournament, revealed that several foreign players had been stranded at the hotel but were eventually assisted by the British High Commission. “An English umpire contacted the High Commission, and they were able to leave safely,” Rasool said.
Local players indicated that the organisers may have underestimated the budget required to run such a tournament. Financial issues arose when sponsors pulled out at the last minute. “Even the kits for the first day were unavailable and had to be procured locally. No player was signed with a formal written contract,” a local insider explained.
The league was organised by a group called Yuva Society Mohali, in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council. A council official confirmed that the IHPL president Ashu Dani had obtained police clearance and stadium usage permission, stating, “They provided funds to us. The government has no direct involvement. Why the league was shut down midway, we do not know.”
A government press release dated 22 October mentioned a preparatory meeting chaired by the Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg, which estimated that 25–30,000 spectators would attend matches at the Bakshi Stadium. However, in reality, attendance was far below expectations, and lowering ticket prices failed to attract significant crowds.
Attempts to reach the Divisional Commissioner for comment were unsuccessful, according to the Times of India.
This incident has sparked criticism of the IHPL organisers for mismanagement and has raised questions about the league’s credibility and planning, leaving players and fans frustrated.