The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) stated that a player seen wearing a Palestine flag on his helmet during a local league match in Jammu is not associated with them. Furqan Bhat, who played in the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League that commenced on December 29, has been summoned by the police for questioning along with the league’s organizer, Zahid Bhat. Brig Anil Gupta (Retd), Member Administration of the JKCA, emphasized that the league in question is not recognized by the JKCA, and the player was not registered with them or any affiliated bodies.
Police responded to the incident after it gained attention and the image circulated widely. An investigation has been initiated into the unauthorized cricket league. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its affiliated state associations prohibit players from participating in unrecognized tournaments. This development follows another league in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), where organizers allegedly absconded on November 1, leaving players, officials, broadcasters, and hoteliers in a lurch.
The IHPL, which featured international players like Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill, and Thisara Perera, was held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar but was cut short after only 12 matches out of 27 were played. The league, organized by Mohali-based Yuva Society, included teams such as Pulwama Titans, Ladakh Heroes, Srinagar Sultans, and others, and was supposed to end on November 8. Former Indian cricketers, umpires, and staff were left stranded when the organizers vanished midway through the tournament.
