NEW DELHI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has terminated his association with Spartan Sports, in which he was an investor and an advisory board member, after the company defaulted on payments running into crores.
The 45-year-old Tendulkar, who holds a plethora of records in international cricket, was signed up by the Sydney-based company in 2016. It was co-founded by Indian entrepreneur Kunal Sharma.
Besides Tendulkar, the company has also signed other leading names from the sport, such as India’s World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, big-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle and Eoin Morgan among others.
A recent court ruling in Australia ordered the sports gear and equipment company to be liquidated, which in turn could affect the players associated with Spartan Sports.
Well-placed sources said a few cricketers suffered financial losses after the company defaulted on their payments.
“He will stall company’s plans to grow sports goods business in India and other Asian countries. While (Tendulkar is the) first high-profile exit from the names associated with Spartan, others like Dhoni and Mitchell Johnson had threatened or undertaken legal action,” a source told PTI.
“Future of company is uncertain as it stares at liquidation. Group company SSG (Wholesale) Australia is already under liquidation. The company’s efforts to reorganise business after liquidation of group company has not yielded any results,” he said.
Spartan Sports owes creditors to the tune of Rs 60 crore and the players could suffer major losses if the liquidation process gets underway.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke, who had signed a bat sponsorship deal with the company, stopped using the Spartan logo on his bat during the final phase of his career, while pacer Johnson filed a case against it. (AGENCIES)
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SPORTS-DRAVID-BIRTHDAY
‘The Wall’ turns 46
NEW DELHI, Jan 11:
Former Indian cricket and captain Rahul Dravid turned 46 on Friday as wishes poured in from the former and the current cricketers.
He played for the National side from 1996-2012. Began his Test debut in June 20, 1996 against England and played last Test on January 24, 2012 against Australia while started playing ODI from April 3, 1996 vs Sri Lanka and last was against England on September 16, 2011.
He is also regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket played 164 Test matches amassing 13288 runs 36 centuries, 63 half-centuries at an average of 52.3 while in ODIs from 344 matches 10889 runs, 12 centuries, 83 half centuries averaging 39.2. Played only one T20 International match against England in 2011.
Was also part of Indian Premier League from 2007-13 playing 109 matches scored 2586 runs at an average of 27.5.
The Wall was also adjudged Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2000, ICC Test Player of the Year 2004 and ICC Player of the Year in the same year.
Dravid was also coach of Under-19 World Cup winner in 2018. He is also remembered for his best partnership in ODIs 331: Dravid/Sachin, 318: Dravid/Ganguly while in Tests 410: Dravid/Sehwag, 376: Dravid/Laxman.
(AGENCIES)
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