Srinagar: A private cricket league, Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) promoted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council with the prominent presence of former West Indies cricketer Chirs Gayle, has stopped midway as its management has cancelled matches, ghosted players and umpires and haven't even paid their bills.
The cricketers, including some national and international players and umpires like England and Wales Cricket Board coach Mel Juniper who was an umpire in this tournament and Praveen Kumar, were not allowed to leave Radisson Collection Hotel here in Srinagar, due to pending bills of the hotel. After some calls and negotiation after the news was leaked in the media, some of the players left the hotel while a few were still there.
"The league hasn't paid any bills. They haven't paid players, umpires, staff or the hotel. They (League management) had told the hotel to hold the players within the building. The league management is nowhere to be seen and they are not even receiving our calls," Juniper told reporters inside the hotel premises. "We can't play till our dues are cleared," she said.
This League started on October 25 here at Bakshi Stadium and the final was to be held on November 8. Eight teams had to play 27 matches and around 70 players, umpires and staff were staying in the hotel.
"The balance amount of IHPL management is huge. It is a huge financial loss to everyone. But we have nothing to do with the players. They closed the event suddenly with no prior information or clearance of bills. Many of them have left the hotel now," a senior official of the Radisson Collection Hotel told ET.
IHPL was organised by Mohali-based Yuva Society and promoted by J&K Sports Council, whose secretary Nuzhat Gul was present in the inaugural function and match, along with senior bureaucrats of J&K. However, within hours of the controversy, Gul has distanced herself from the league stating it had nothing to do with the Sports Council or the J&K government.
"Officially, this league has nothing to do with the government or Sports Council. They had booked Bakhshi stadium for the matches and paid for that," Gul told ET. When asked about her presence at the inaugural match and promotion of the league, she said, "I can get invites from anyone... that doesn't prove any association or impact my credibility in any way."
The cricketers, including some national and international players and umpires like England and Wales Cricket Board coach Mel Juniper who was an umpire in this tournament and Praveen Kumar, were not allowed to leave Radisson Collection Hotel here in Srinagar, due to pending bills of the hotel. After some calls and negotiation after the news was leaked in the media, some of the players left the hotel while a few were still there.
"The league hasn't paid any bills. They haven't paid players, umpires, staff or the hotel. They (League management) had told the hotel to hold the players within the building. The league management is nowhere to be seen and they are not even receiving our calls," Juniper told reporters inside the hotel premises. "We can't play till our dues are cleared," she said.
This League started on October 25 here at Bakshi Stadium and the final was to be held on November 8. Eight teams had to play 27 matches and around 70 players, umpires and staff were staying in the hotel.
"The balance amount of IHPL management is huge. It is a huge financial loss to everyone. But we have nothing to do with the players. They closed the event suddenly with no prior information or clearance of bills. Many of them have left the hotel now," a senior official of the Radisson Collection Hotel told ET.
IHPL was organised by Mohali-based Yuva Society and promoted by J&K Sports Council, whose secretary Nuzhat Gul was present in the inaugural function and match, along with senior bureaucrats of J&K. However, within hours of the controversy, Gul has distanced herself from the league stating it had nothing to do with the Sports Council or the J&K government.
"Officially, this league has nothing to do with the government or Sports Council. They had booked Bakhshi stadium for the matches and paid for that," Gul told ET. When asked about her presence at the inaugural match and promotion of the league, she said, "I can get invites from anyone... that doesn't prove any association or impact my credibility in any way."
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