Srinagar, November 2(KNB): The crisis surrounding the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL T20) has eased slightly after local players stranded at a Srinagar hotel were allowed to leave, following assurances from the tournament organizers regarding pending payments. However, despite the temporary relief, doubts continue to loom large over the future of the much-hyped league.
According to sources, nearly 70 players, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, had been confined to a luxury hotel in Srinagar for the past two days after the organizers failed to clear dues owed to both the players and the hotel management. With mounting pressure from cricketers and the hotel staff, the situation threatened to spiral further before a late-night meeting on Saturday brought partial resolution.
Hotel officials confirmed that some of the IHPL management members stepped forward to assure that all financial matters, including players’ contract payments and accommodation dues, would be settled soon. Following this assurance, local players were allowed to check out and return home.
“Almost all the local players have left the hotel. Some organizers are still here along with a few umpires and outstation players,” said a hotel staff member. “The management has given written and verbal assurances that payments will be made soon.”
Despite this, confusion and mistrust remain. International umpire Melissa Juniper, who has been officiating in the league, told reporters outside the hotel that the crisis has left everyone — players, umpires, and officials — in a difficult position.
“There is no fault of the hotel, the players, or the officials. None of us have been paid so far,” Juniper said. “The organizers are nowhere to be seen, and they aren’t even taking calls.”
The IHPL T20, billed as a glamorous new cricket tournament to promote local talent from Jammu and Kashmir alongside national and international players, began with much fanfare at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium last month. The league featured several franchise teams and was expected to bring commercial attention and opportunities to the region’s budding cricketers.
However, the excitement soon turned into chaos. Players went unpaid for weeks, and by November 1, several teams refused to take the field, leading to the cancellation of scheduled matches. The situation worsened when hotel management locked down the premises, preventing players from leaving until dues were cleared.
As the controversy grew, questions emerged over the financial credibility of the organizers and the absence of any official oversight or sanction from recognized cricket authorities like the BCCI or JKCA.
While the immediate standoff appears to have eased, the broader future of the IHPL T20 remains uncertain. With organizers reportedly untraceable and no formal communication regarding the continuation of the tournament, the credibility of the event has taken a major hit.
Players and umpires are still awaiting their payments, and no fresh schedule or statement has been released by the league management as of Sunday evening.
“This might be the end of the IHPL unless the organizers come forward with transparency,” said a local player who requested anonymity. “We joined this league with dreams, but it turned into a nightmare.”
For now, the IHPL T20 stands as a cautionary tale about unregulated private cricket leagues — where the promises of fame and payment can vanish overnight, leaving players stranded both financially and emotionally.(KNB)
