New Cricket Scam: Organizers Missing, Iconic Players Left Stranded

The much-hyped Indian Heaven Premier League is a T20 tournament marked as a landmark cricketing event in Jammu and Kashmir, which ended in chaos over the weekend. The organizers have reportedly abandoned Srinagar and left behind unpaid bills, and some iconic players were left stranded.

The league, which kicked off on October 25 at Bakshi Stadium, had appearances of some of the best cricketers in the world, such as Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, and Thisara Perera, and was supposed to continue until November 7. All the players were left stunned as the event collapsed. The Indian Heaven Premier League scam has raised serious questions about the planning and management of the tournament.

Chris Gayle Scammed in Indian Heaven Premier League

The stadium and nearby hotels were almost empty as around 40 players, including international players, were stranded without pay or clear instructions. According to Mellisa Juniper, an English umpire in the tournament, “The organizers have not cleared payments for players, umpires, or hotels. Some of us had to reach out to embassies to ensure players could get home.” Parvez Rasool, a former India all-rounder, confirmed that a few players were temporarily restricted from leaving their hotels until the financial issues were resolved.

Indian Heaven Premier League organizers, Yuva Society Mohali, in partnership with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and aimed to develop youth cricket and offer local players the opportunity to share the field with international stars. Surinder Khanna, a former Indian cricketer and IHPL mentor, described it as a “golden opportunity” for the youth of Kashmir.

There was mismanagement from the very first day. Crowds were not present despite ticket price reductions, and player uniforms had to be arranged locally because organizers had not prepared contracts. The matches featuring Chris Gayle were the only ones that attracted attention, while other international players such as Thisara Perera, Richard Levi, and Jesse Ryder participated briefly before leaving the tournament due to confusion and uncertainty.

Although some local officials insisted that the government had no involvement beyond providing the stadium and security clearance. Ultimately, the players have returned home, and the vision of a professional, international-standard T20 league in the Kashmir Valley ended in complete chaos.

Players Allowed to Leave Hotel with Families After Agreement

The organizers have vanished from the Valley, leaving behind unpaid bills at the hotel where players were accommodated. The management, forced to lock the rooms, left the players without food or shelter. Even the partners responsible for advertising and hoardings were unpaid. The hotel management official said

The tournament was being held at a venue usually used for football and government events. Despite the challenges, hundreds of spectators came to watch and cheer for their favorite players. Eight teams participated in the league, which had international stars such as Chris Gayle, one of the most dangerous batsman in the world, alongside other overseas cricketers.

Although the league had initially released a list of 32 former international players, only Gayle, Richard Levi, Thisara Perera, and two players from Oman, Shoaib and Ayaan, actually arrived in the Valley. Former Indian pacer Parveen Kumar served as one of the league’s icon players, while the rest of the players consisted of former Indian cricketers, Ranji players, and local talent. Players were accommodated in over 100 rooms at the Radisson Collection in the Rajbagh area of Srinagar.