Jammu, January 2, 2026

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have ordered a preliminary enquiry after a cricketer from south Kashmir was seen wearing a helmet bearing the Palestinian flag during a match in a privately organised cricket tournament in Jammu. The incident, which occurred during a game in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Champions League, has sparked debate and prompted law enforcement authorities to examine its potential public order implications.

According to a police spokesperson, the enquiry was initiated on Friday after a video and photographs of the player went viral on social media. The visuals showed the cricketer, identified as Furqan Ul Haq, a resident of Tangipuna village in Pulwama district, playing a match while displaying the Palestinian flag logo on his helmet. The match was held at K C Door in the Muthi area of Jammu on Thursday.

“Yesterday, a video circulating on social media showed a cricket player, Furqan Ul Haq, resident of Tangipuna, Pulwama, playing cricket at K C Door in Muthi, while displaying a Palestine logo on his helmet,” the police spokesperson said in an official statement.

The police said that, given the sensitivity of the issue and the possibility of it impacting public order, a 14-day preliminary enquiry has been initiated under Section 173(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The enquiry is being conducted at the Domana police station and will focus on establishing the facts of the case, the intent behind the act, and the background of the individual involved.

“The enquiry will ascertain the facts, intent and background of the individual, as well as examine any possible linkages,” the spokesperson said, adding that the matter is being handled cautiously due to its wider social and political sensitivities.

Officials clarified that the enquiry is preliminary in nature and does not automatically imply the registration of a criminal case. However, they stressed that any act with the potential to disturb public harmony or create law and order issues would be examined thoroughly in accordance with the law.

The tournament in question, the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League, began on December 29 and is being conducted in Jammu. Authorities and cricket officials were quick to point out that the league is a privately organised event and does not have official recognition from the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

In a statement issued following the controversy, the JKCA distanced itself from the tournament. The association said it has “no role, engagement or association” with the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League, emphasising that the event is a private affair and not recognised by the official cricket body in the Union Territory.

The incident has once again brought attention to the regulation of private cricket leagues in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the absence of formal oversight by recognised cricketing authorities. It also comes at a time when the region has been witnessing heightened scrutiny of public displays and symbols that could be interpreted as politically sensitive.

This is the second cricket-related controversy to hit the Union Territory in recent months. Earlier, the privately run Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) collapsed amid allegations of fraud and mismanagement. The IHPL, which began on October 25 at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium, had attracted significant attention due to the participation of international stars such as Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill and Thisara Perera.

However, the league folded after just 12 of the 27 scheduled matches. Its organisers allegedly fled Srinagar on November 1, leaving players, officials, broadcasters, hotel owners and support staff in the lurch. Around 60 cricketers were reportedly affected, including former India players Praveen Kumar, Iqbal Abdullah and Parvez Rasool, along with umpires and other personnel who were left stranded due to unpaid dues.

The collapse of the IHPL had already raised questions about the credibility, financial transparency and regulatory oversight of privately organised cricket leagues in the region. The latest controversy surrounding the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League has further intensified calls for clearer guidelines and stricter monitoring of such tournaments.

Legal experts say that while individual expression is protected under the law, authorities are often required to assess such actions in the context of local sensitivities and potential public order concerns. In Jammu and Kashmir, where security and communal harmony remain delicate issues, even symbolic gestures can draw official scrutiny.

As the preliminary enquiry progresses, police officials said they would examine all relevant aspects, including whether the act was deliberate, whether it violated any existing rules or laws, and whether it had any broader implications. They also urged the public to avoid speculation and refrain from spreading unverified information on social media.

For now, the focus remains on establishing the facts surrounding the incident. The outcome of the enquiry is expected to determine whether any further legal or administrative action is warranted, while also shaping how similar incidents are handled in the context of sporting events in the Union Territory in the future.