The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), a high-profile T20 cricket event in Jammu and Kashmir, has collapsed under extraordinary circumstances. Organizers allegedly fled the city overnight, abandoning players, umpires, and officials without pay. I found the scene unsettling — an empty stadium, unpaid athletes, and bewildered staff standing amid the wreckage of what was meant to be a celebration of sport. The league, launched by the Yuva Society in association with the J&K Cricket Association, had promised to bring global cricket to the valley. Big names such as Chris Gayle, Jesse Ryder, and Thisara Perera lent credibility to the tournament. But by Sunday, Bakshi Stadium had turned desolate. English umpire Mellissa Juniper said, “Organizers have fled from the hotel. They have not paid the hotel, the players, or the umpires. We’ve reached an agreement with the hotel so players can go home. It’s unfair to keep them here away from their families.” At The Residency Hotel, officials confirmed that 150 rooms were booked for players and staff. A hotel manager said, “They promised a grand event with stars like Chris Gayle to boost Kashmiri tourism. On Sunday morning, we found they had disappeared without clearing dues. Some players, including Gayle, had already checked out Saturday.” Read also: Harmanpreet Kaur Tries to Touch Jay Shah’s Feet During Trophy Hand Over, Video Goes Viral Players stranded, officials silent as inquiry looms Former India all-rounder Parvez Rasool confirmed that several foreign players were briefly restrained by hotel management before embassies intervened. He said, “An English umpire had to reach out to the British embassy." A senior local cricketer alleged that sponsors had backed out midway, forcing organisers to scramble for funds. He revealed, “They gave us a rare chance to share dressing rooms with international cricketers. But sponsors likely pulled out at the last moment, and with low turnout, they ran out of funds. On the first day, there were no uniforms. They bought them locally. No player contracts were signed." A J&K Sports Council official clarified that the body only granted infrastructure clearance and had no organizational role. Yet, a government press release dated October 22 mentioned Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg chairing a meeting on IHPL readiness. The league, announced on September 18, was intended to nurture Kashmiri talent and attract sports tourism. Eight teams featuring 32 international players were scheduled to compete till November 7. Instead, it ended abruptly — leaving the promise of cricketing revival buried beneath unpaid bills and unanswered calls