What began as a high-profile cricket spectacle in Kashmir has ended in chaos, with players stranded in a Srinagar hotel after organisers reportedly abandoned the event midway. The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), promoted as a star-studded Twenty20 tournament featuring international veterans and top local talent, was abruptly scrapped after the organisers allegedly ran out of funds.
On Saturday morning, 32-year-old cricketer Aasif Manzoor from Anantnag was preparing to take the field in what was meant to be a marquee match. Instead, he and several teammates found themselves stuck inside the Radisson Hotel in Srinagar, unable to check out because of unpaid dues.
“We did not expect it to end this way.”
How a star-studded Kashmir cricket league bombed as organisers fled, leaving a trail of questions and a sense of betrayal https://t.co/HynN9H6W77 pic.twitter.com/ucIvTryJoV— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 6, 2025
The tournament had been arranged by the Yuva Society, a Punjab-based private group that handled accommodation, logistics and team arrangements. But according to players, the organisers disappeared the night before, leaving behind mounting hotel bills running into millions of rupees. Players said calls to the organisers went unanswered as confusion spread.
Chris Gayle Bagh Gaya :Biryani Walay Be Ro Raha Hai:IHPL pic.twitter.com/91V6UmGDX3— Owais Baba 💫 (@OwaisBaba__) November 3, 2025
Tournament Collapses Amid Sponsorship Issues
The IHPL began on October 25 with eight teams and more than 30 former international cricketers, including crowd-pullers such as Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, Jesse Ryder, Richard Levi and Ayab Khan. Many domestic players from Kashmir also featured in the league, which was scheduled to conclude on Friday.
However, officials familiar with the event said the tournament ran into sponsorship shortfalls, with funds failing to arrive as expected. Low attendance at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium further strained finances, leaving the organisers unable to pay hotel and logistical expenses.
Matters escalated when the organising group reportedly left overnight. Players at the Radisson were unable to depart until intervention from officials. A senior member of the visiting delegation, believed to be associated with the England and Wales Cricket Board, contacted the British High Commission in New Delhi, which then communicated with hotel authorities.
Hotel owner Mushtaq Chaya later confirmed that the organisers had defaulted on payments exceeding Rs 5 million.
Authorities Launch Inquiry; Organisers Unreachable
The debacle has triggered scrutiny over how the event was approved. Local sporting bodies, including the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, have distanced themselves from the organisers, while police have announced an investigation.
The Yuva Society is yet to issue a statement, and its official website has gone offline since the controversy erupted.
Meanwhile, streaming platform FanCode has marked all remaining IHPL fixtures as “abandoned.”
Disappointment After Intense Build-Up
The event initially generated buzz, with promotional clips showing Chris Gayle training on the wet Srinagar turf and local crowds cheering during early matches. Among the expected participants was former India cricketer Parvez Rasool, the first Kashmiri to represent the national team.
For now, the failed tournament has left players frustrated and residents questioning oversight, as Kashmir grapples with yet another attempt at projecting normalcy that ended abruptly.
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