On November 2, the tenth day of ‘The Indian Heaven’s Premier League’ cricket event in Srinagar, more than 50 players, including big names like former India pacer Praveen Kumar, were in for a rude shock. Not paid by the organisers, the players wanted to leave, but the hotel staff didn’t allow them to check out, citing uncleared bills worth Rs 51 lakh. News had spread among the players that a couple of retired overseas stars who featured in the league — Chris Gayle and New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder – had already left the country that morning.

The IHPL was a private cricket league organised by a group called Yuva Society Mohali in Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium, and its organisers allegedly left the city without making payments to players, match officials, commentators and the hotel.

Praveen Kumar n

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