Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is suing an Australian sports equipment manufacturing company, claiming it used his name and image to promote its products and failed to pay him nearly $3 million.
In a civil lawsuit filed against Sydney-based Spartan Sports International and four other companies of the group, the cricketer has claimed that the company agreed to pay him US$1 million a year for using his name and image for promoting sports goods and clothing, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
In the claim filed in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in Sydney on June 5, the batting maestro claimed that he appeared at promotional events in London and Mumbai and also did a photo shoot for the company.
Tendulkar- the worlds’ highest run scorer in One Day and Test formats – decided to terminate the contract two years later after failing to receive any money despite a formal request, according to the court documents.
Despite asking Spartan to stop using his name and images, the company continued to do so, Tendulkar claimed. In the lawsuit filed on behalf of the Master Blaster and his company SRT Sports Management, Tendulkar’s lawyers say that a total of US$2 million (approximately $2.9 million) is owed to him.
Sachin Tendulkar Source: AAP
Source: Supplied
Sachin Tendulkar in action against Sri Lanka in Hobart, Australia in 2012. AAP Image/ AP Photo/Chris Crerar Source: AP
Spartan’s owner Kunal Sharma and COO Les Galbraith did not respond to respond to requests for comment.
Indian wicketkeeper and former captain MS Dhoni who is one of Spartan’s brand ambassadors also had a payment dispute with the company.
Besides, Dhoni, Spartan’s website lists Australian opener David Warner, former Australian captain Michael Clarke, West Indian batter Chris Gayle and former England batsman Kevin Pietersen among its brand ambassadors.
