SRINAGAR – Former India all-rounder Parvez Rasool has strongly condemned the social media mockery directed at West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle following the premature end of the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) in Jammu and Kashmir. Rasool described the online memes as "irresponsible and harmful for Kashmir's cricket".

The IHPL, a T20 tournament, collapsed abruptly on Saturday night after organizers allegedly absconded from a Srinagar hotel without compensating players, staff, and umpires. This incident sparked a wave of criticism and humorous memes online, some of which targeted Chris Gayle, who had been participating in the league.

Rasool refuted the implication that Gayle had "fled" the scene. He clarified that Gayle had fulfilled his commitment to play three matches and departed after that. According to Rasool, Gayle was warmly greeted by everyone at the hotel upon his departure. He emphasized the importance of showing respect to a cricketer of Gayle's stature.

Rasool highlighted the positive impact of Gayle's presence in Kashmir. He stated that Gayle's participation encouraged local players and helped promote tourism in the region. Rasool noted that Gayle was seen enjoying a Shikara ride on Dal Lake, interacting with fans, and praising the talent of local cricketers.

"An international cricketer of great repute, Chris Gayle, was here. He praised one of our boys and said he played well. It was a rare moment for us," Rasool stated. "He interacted with local players, visited Dal Lake to promote tourism, and now people are making memes saying he ran away. That's unfair and not good for us or for cricket".

Addressing the IHPL controversy, Rasool acknowledged that the league was "poorly managed" but stopped short of calling it a scam. He revealed that he was also a victim of the mismanagement, as he had not received any payment for his involvement.

The collapse of the IHPL has triggered concerns and criticism. Reports indicate that the J&K Sports Council, which had initially promoted the event, is attempting to distance itself from the situation. Questions are being raised about the lack of due diligence in vetting the organizers, which allowed the fraudulent league to operate and tarnish the region's image. The incident has also raised concerns about unpaid hotel bills and the overall management of the tournament.