SPORTS

Firdous Qadri What was billed as a fortnight of high-octane cricket meant to showcase a new Kashmir, fresh crowds at Bakshi Stadium, international stars, government officials on the dais, ended as a nightmare for players, hotel staff and local vendors. The Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), which began on October 25, collapsed in less than ten days after organisers vanished, matches were cancelled and nearly 70 players and match officials were left scrambling over unpaid bills. The company behind the league, the Mohali-linked Yuva Society, fronted publicly by chairman Parminder Singh and president Ashu (Ashudani) Dani, now faces allegations of fraud, abandoned contracts and a cash crunch that has damaged dozens of livelihoods. Only days before the opening, Srinagar’s divisional admini...

Firdous Qadri Chaos has erupted around the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) T20 after nearly 70 players, mostly from Jammu Kashmir, were left stranded in a Srinagar hotel when the organizers allegedly disappeared without clearing dues. According to local players, they are currently lodged at the Radisson Collection Hotel in Srinagar, where the management has demanded immediate payment of pending bills. The league’s organizers, however, are reportedly untraceable, leaving players, hotel staff, and local vendors uncertain about their payments. Police have reached the hotel to investigate the matter as tensions grow among the players, who claim they have not received a single rupee of their promised contracts. The controversy came to light on November 1, when players boycotted ...

The Jammu Kashmir government has revealed that 631 outsiders, non-residents, have purchased land in Jammu Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in October 2019. According to Government Question No. 286 tabled by Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, details as per Kashmir Dot Com show that land worth over ₹130 crore has been acquired by non-locals across Jammu and Kashmir. The government data states that in the Jammu region, 378 non-residents have purchased 212 kanal, 13 marla, and 128 square feet of land, valued at approximately ₹90.48 crore. Meanwhile, in the Kashmir region, 253 non-residents have bought 173 kanal and 7 marla of land, amounting to ₹39.49 crore in total value. The disclosure marks official confirmations of land transactions involving non-residents following the constituti...

Suhail Dar A well-known cricketer from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Enayat Malik, a resident of Akingam Achabal, passed away on Saturday after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, officials said. Family sources told The Kashmiriyat that Malik collapsed at his home and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The news of his untimely death has sent shockwaves through the local community and the sports fraternity across Kashmir. Malik was regarded as one of the most talented cricketers to emerge from the region in recent years. “He was not just a fine player but a humble human being who inspired many young boys in Achabal to take up cricket,” said a local resident while speaking to The Kashmiriyat. Officials confirmed that the body was handed over...

During the India vs Australia 1st ODI, a speed gun reading showed Mitchell Starc bowling a 176.5 kmph delivery to Rohit Sharma, sparking excitement among cricket fans. Social media erupted with claims that it was the fastest ball in ODI history, surpassing Shoaib Akhtar’s record of 161.3 kmph. However, this viral claim is false. The speed gun reading was a technical error. Such glitches occasionally occur due to calibration issues in broadcasting equipment. No official statement from the ICC or Cricket Australia confirmed that Starc bowled at that speed. His actual deliveries during the match were within his usual 145–150 kmph range. The match saw Australia make a strong start after opting to bowl first. Rohit Sharma fell early, edging a rising delivery from Josh Hazlewood to the ...

The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has ordered the maintenance of status quo on a 17-kanal piece of land at Baghat Barzulla in Srinagar, popularly known as the MET Ground, amid a dispute over its allotment for construction projects. The directive came in response to a writ petition filed by the Football Association Barzulla, which sought protection of the land as a public playing field. The petitioners argued that the ground has been used for football and sports activities for over three decades and serves as the only major recreational space for local youth. According to the court order, the land, known as the Bua Ashraf Begum property, is evacuee property under the administrative control of the Custodian Evacuee Property, Kashmir, in accordance with the Jammu Kashmir State ...

India has lodged an official complaint with the ICC against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for provocative gestures during the Asia Cup Super 4 match on September 21. Rauf mimicked bringing down a plane and hurled abuses at Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, while Sahibzada celebrated with a gun-firing gesture using his bat. Sahibzada later defended his celebration, saying, “That celebration was just a moment at that time. I do not do a lot of celebrations after scoring 50. But, it suddenly came to my mind that let's do a celebration today. I did that. I don't know how people will take it. I don't care about that.” If the players deny the allegations, they may have to appear before ICC Elite Panel Referee Richie Richardson Both could face sanc...

Kashmir’s young athletes are carving their names in India’s water sports arena, with three paddlers from the Valley winning medals at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 and other national-level competitions. Mohsin Ali, son of Fida Hussain from Nehru Park Kand Mohalla, Srinagar, has emerged as one of Kashmir's most decorated kayaking and canoeing players. He holds a total of 14 national medals, including 3 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze. At the Khelo India 2025 event, he clinched the gold medal, adding to his bronze medal win at the National Games 2025. Mohammed Hussain brought pride to Kashmir by winning a silver medal in the C2 category at the Khelo India 2025 festival. Another Kashmiri paddler, Sajad Hussain Latoo, also secured a silver medal at the festival. He has bu...

A 17-year-old budding cricketer from the Mazhama area of central Kashmir’s Budgam, Muzamil Ahmad Hajam, passed away after battling for life for nearly three weeks following a road accident. Muzamil, son of Muhammad Yousuf Hajam, had met with a serious bike accident on the Mazhama Road around 20 days ago. Despite being under intensive treatment at the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving his family, friends, and the local cricketing community in deep mourning. Widely known for his talent and passion for the sport, Muzamil was considered a rising star in local cricket circles. His untimely demise has sent shockwaves across the area, with residents describing it as an irreplaceable loss. Local voices have called upon the youth to exercise greater caution while driving, par...

Danishwar Hameed In a tragic turn of events, a young man lost his life while bravely attempting to thwart a robbery attempt at his home in the Sangran area of Qazigund during the early hours of Friday. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that at around 2:00 AM, some unknown individuals entered the residential premises of Mohd Yaseen Banday, a resident of Kishgund, Sangran, Qazigund, posing as security personnel. They said that under the pretext of conducting a search operation, the intruders directed all family members to come out of the house. Sensing something suspicious, Zahid Ahmad Banday, son of the house owner, attempted to apprehend one of the intruders, suspecting them to be thieves. In the confrontation that followed, one of the attackers struck Zahid with a sharp-edged weapon, ...