The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on Thursday confirmed that a player reportedly wearing a Palestine flag on his helmet while batting during a local league match in Jammu is associated with a tournament that isn’t recognised by them.
According to reports, Furqan Bhat, who participated in the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League that began on December 29, has been called in by police along with the league’s organiser, Zahid Bhat, for questioning. “The league is not recognised by JKCA,” stated Brig Anil Gupta (Retd), Member Administration of the JKCA. It is understood that the player was neither registered with the JKCA nor with any of its affiliated bodies in the state.
Police reportedly rushed to the venue after the incident came to their attention, and its image went viral. An investigation has been launched into the unauthorised cricket league. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its affiliated state associations prohibit players from participating in unrecognised tournaments.
This marks the second league from Jammu and Kashmir coming under scrutiny after the privately-run Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) reportedly saw its organisers flee Srinagar on November 1, following allegations of duping players, match officials, broadcasters, and hoteliers.
The Indian Heaven Premier League, which kicked off on October 25 at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar featuring international players like Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill, and Thisara Perera, collapsed after just 12 of the scheduled 27 matches were played.
Organised by Mohali-based Yuva Society, the league included eight teams—Pulwama Titans, Ladakh Heroes, Srinagar Sultans, Kishtwar Giants, Gulmarg Royals, Patnitop Warriors, Jammu Lions, and Uri Panthers—and was set to conclude on November 8.
Approximately 70 cricketers, including former Indian players Praveen Kumar, Iqbal Abdullah, and Parvez Rasool, along with umpires and staff, were left stranded after the organisers vanished midway through the tournament.