Tendulkar Sues Australian Bat Manufacturer Spartan Sports

Former Indian Cricket Captain, Sachin Tendulkar, has filed a civil lawsuit in the Federal Circuit Court against Australian cricket bat manufacturer, Spartan Sports, for allegedly failing to pay him $3 million under an exclusive licensing agreement to use his name and image on the company’s products.

It’s reported that Tendulkar, an investor and an advisory board member, terminated his association after the company defaulted on payments running into the millions, asking the company to stop using his name and likeness.

“Tendulkar is suing Spartan after it allegedly failed to pay him $3 million under an exclusive licensing agreement to use his name and image on sporting goods,” said a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Documents filed in court, lawyers for the batting legend say the company failed to make any payments due to Mr Tendulkar and a statutory demand issued in September 2018 for $US2 million – approximately $AU2.9 million – remains unpaid.”

Coincidentally, David Warner used a bat manufactured by Spartan while hitting 107 against Pakistan in the World Cup match in Taunton on Wednesday.

Warner has recently signed a new deal with Spartan but it was unclear whether or not he had been paid a portion of his contract.

While there was no suggestion Spartan would not pay the money owed to the Australian opener, Warner’s manager James Erskine said he expected the contract to be fulfilled.

“Warner has got a contract with them and if they don’t pay, we’d probably do the same thing (as Tendulkar),” Erskine told the Herald.

“If people don’t pay you under a contract, you are free to sue them for the money you think you have been owed.”

Spartan group company SSG Wholesale (Australia) – formerly known as Spartan Sporting Goods – was put into liquidation by creditors on May 23 last year.

Michael Clarke, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kevin Pietersen are among other cricketers Spartan has had on its books over the years.

Australian Test cricketers Mitchell Johnson and Joe Burns have previously sued Spartan over an alleged shortfall in contract payments.

A preliminary hearing of the dispute is slated for June 26 in Sydney.