Sourav
Ganguly - all's square in cricket and commerce? |
“They (Percept) have withdrawn the injunction (against me),” Ganguly
today told indiantelevision.com here after finishing a shoot for
a new cricket-related show for ESPN. Asked specifically whether
he would sign up with a new sports management company, Ganguly’s
cryptic reply was, “Wait for a couple of days.”
All attempts on the part of indiantelevision.com to elicit a response
from Percept D'Mark or the company's executive director Sanjay Lall
on Thursday however, were in vain. Lall did not repond to calls
on his cell phone.
Counsel for Percept D'mark, Satish Kishinchandani was quoted by
Press Trust of India as saying: "We have withdrawn the suit as our
rights have been given to us and there is nothing left to follow
up.Whatever information we needed has been given to us and we are
satisfied with it. Hence the decision to withdraw the suit."
Ganguly, meanwhile, did not comment whether the new company with
whom he may sign up is World Sports Nimbus. Earlier, there had been
reports in the media that Ganguly was all set to sign up with WSN
for a far more lucrative deal than that of Percept’s. This had been
denied by Nimbus.
Today, when indiantelevision.com got in touch with Nimbus’ executive
chairman Harish Thawani, he reiterated that no deal has been signed
between WSN and Ganguly. However, the sports industry is abuzz with
news that Ganguly is all set to sign up a Rs 600 million deal with
a new sports management company.
Meanwhile, it has also been learnt that cricketers Yuvraj Singh
and Zaheer Khan too have moved out of the Percept fold.
Event and celebrity management company, Percept D'Mark had filed
a legal suit against Ganguly in the Mumbai High Court last Friday
accusing the Indian cricket captain "of not complying with the terms
of the contract.'' Percept had also taken a restraint order from
the court that barred Ganguly from signing up with another player
management agency till the matter was not legally resolved. The
matter was to be heard today, but the injunction was withdrawn by
Percept before the hearing could take place, Ganguly has said.
The Percept-Ganguly contract expired on Monday. Percept D'Mark had
claimed that Ganguly merely negotiating with any other agency was
a breach of contract. Percept D'mark's contention was that the first
right of refusal at the time of renewal of contract and the right
to match any offer that was made to Ganguly vested solely with it.
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