Suffered trauma, embarrassment, say players in complaint after league collapse

Players and staff of the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) — a privately organised cricket tournament that collapsed in Srinagar last week — have alleged in their police complaint that they suffered mental trauma, financial hardship, and public embarrassment after the organisers allegedly absconded without paying hotel bills and professional dues.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier this week registered a case under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after the league, which featured several international cricketers including Chris Gayle, ended in chaos amid allegations of fraud and mismanagement.

According to the complaint accessed by The Tribune, players and support staff sought “registration of an FIR and immediate police intervention” against the organisers of IHPL/Yuva Society, identified as Praminder Singh and Ashu Dhani, for “large-scale fraud, cheating, breach of trust and criminal negligence.”

The complaint stated that the tournament was organised by an entity named Yuva Society, which claimed to be conducting an “officially approved” cricket league in Srinagar. “The organisers invited several national and international players and support staff, promising professional contracts, participation payments, and full hospitality during the league,” it read.

Players said they travelled from “across India and abroad” to participate and were assured that accommodation and meals at Hotel Radisson Collection, Srinagar would be covered by the organisers. However, the complaint said the organisers “absconded from the hotel, leaving behind players and staff without clearing bills or paying dues.”

“We have been kept waiting at the hotel premises as the management has refused to let us leave until the bills are settled. The situation has caused panic, distress, and humiliation to everyone involved,” the complaint added, noting that the organisers had switched off their phones and were “untraceable.”

It further alleged that funds collected for the league were “fraudulently misappropriated” and that players, vendors, and the hotel were cheated. “There is strong reason to believe that they have misused the money and abandoned the event,” the complaint said.

Around 50 players and support staff, including Indian and foreign professionals, are said to have been affected. “We have suffered mental trauma, financial hardship, and public embarrassment because of the organisers’ illegal actions,” it said, urging police to act swiftly in what it called a matter of “urgent public concern involving international sports professionals.”