Srinagar, November 3(KNB): The ongoing controversy surrounding the Indian Heaven Premier League T20 (IHPLT20) has taken a new turn, with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council issuing a clarification that it had no direct involvement in organizing the league — other than providing the Bakshi Stadium as a paid venue facility.
The league, which had promised a star-studded cricketing spectacle featuring international names like Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, and Jesse Ryder, has abruptly come to a halt amid chaos and allegations of fraud. Dozens of cricketers, including local players from Jammu and Kashmir, vendors, and hotel staff, have reportedly been left unpaid after the organizers allegedly fled Srinagar without clearing dues.
The sudden collapse of the event has sparked outrage, with political parties and sports figures calling for a formal probe into the circumstances that led to the fiasco.
Responding to public criticism, a senior official from the J&K Sports Council said that the Council’s role was limited to renting out the Bakshi Stadium in accordance with established procedures.
“The Sports Council only provided the ground facility on payment. We follow the same procedure for all private organizers, whether it was the Legends League T20 last year or the Red Premier League earlier this year. The IHPLT20 organizers were also charged venue usage fees as per standard norms,” the official clarified.
The Council emphasized that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had no connection with the IHPLT20, as the tournament featured only retired and non-contracted players. “Everyone knew this was a private, non-BCCI event,” the official added.
From Glamour to Scandal
The IHPLT20 began with much fanfare in Srinagar, with advertisements promising international stars, celebrity appearances, and high-stakes matches under lights. The participation of players like Chris Gayle and Parvez Rasool, who had recently announced his retirement to join the league, added to the hype.
However, within days, reports began surfacing that players were not being paid, and hotels were refusing to release them until pending bills were cleared. By late October, the situation escalated as organizers went missing, leaving around 70 players stranded in a city hotel.
The situation forced intervention from local authorities and the hotel management, while the organizers allegedly switched off their phones and vacated offices, sparking fears of a financial scam.
Calls for Accountability
Political and sports circles in J&K have demanded that the government and law enforcement agencies launch a detailed probe into the league’s operations, funding, and permissions. Many are questioning whether due diligence was performed before allowing such an event to use a public sports facility.
While defending its limited role, the Sports Council has indicated that it will conduct an internal assessment to determine any outstanding payments related to the venue, vendors, or service providers.
“If any legitimate dues remain unpaid within the Council’s scope, we will review them. But the contractual obligations toward players, hotels, and staff lie entirely with the private organizers,” the official stated.
As investigations are likely to follow, the IHPLT20 stands as a cautionary tale for privately organized leagues in India that operate outside official cricketing structures. The incident has not only tarnished the image of sports promotion in J&K but also raised serious questions about the vetting process for event organizers using government-owned sports infrastructure.
With players and vendors still waiting for their payments and organizers untraceable, the once-hyped IHPLT20 has turned into an embarrassing reminder of how unchecked private ventures can collapse — leaving behind financial and reputational damage for everyone involved.(KNB)