Sports
Glenwalk Lions roar to ASTCL Season 2 title
Sanjay Dutt-owned team defeats Tigers by 4 runs in final after just 10 days’ preparation.
MUMBAI: When the ball met bat in the All Stars Tennis Ball Cricket League final, the Glenwalk Lions didn’t just win, they pounced. Owned by hindi movie heavyweight Sanjay Dutt and Mokksh Sani of Cartel Bros., and led by television star Aamir Ali, the Lions lifted the Season 2 trophy after a thrilling 4-run victory over the Tigers in the grand finale. The 10-team tournament, held from 9 to 14 February 2026, was a week of high-octane action, packed crowds and nail-biting finishes. What makes the Lions’ triumph remarkable? The squad was assembled a mere 10 days before the first ball was bowled yet they displayed remarkable cohesion, grit and flair to outplay nine rivals and claim the crown.
Sanjay Dutt, beaming with pride, said, “Watching the Glenwalk Lions lift the trophy has been an incredibly proud moment. The team showcased resilience, discipline, and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the tournament.”
Glenwalk Lions captain Aamir Ali echoed the sentiment, “This victory is a testament to the hard work and unity of our squad. Every player stepped up when it mattered most, and we are grateful for the unwavering support from our fans.”
Cartel Bros. co-founder Mokksh Sani added, “This victory is more than just a trophy, it represents belief, teamwork and the spirit of the Glenwalk Lions. Watching the team come together with such passion and discipline throughout ASTCL Season 2 has been truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of what the players, management and supporters have achieved together. This is just the beginning of an even stronger legacy.”
In a format where tennis balls fly fast and fortunes flip quicker than a bad googly, the Lions’ rapid rise from scratch team to champions underlines the raw magic of street-smart cricket. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone who appreciates underdog tales, this win proves that sometimes the best stories start with barely enough time to lace up your boots.
Sports
JioStar terminates Bangladesh IPL and WPL broadcast rights deals
Payment defaults lead to licence cancellations and potential legal action.
MUMBAI: When the money stops flowing in cricket’s biggest cash cow, even the sub-licence holders can find themselves suddenly bowled out. JioStar India Private Limited has terminated its Bangladesh sub-licence agreements for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) after the counterparty, Excel Lead IT Solutions FZ-LLC (holding company of broadcaster T-Sports), failed to clear outstanding dues.
The agreements, originally signed with Viacom18 (now part of JioStar) and later novated to Excel Lead, covered digital media rights for the IPL and WPL in Bangladesh for the 2023–27 seasons. In early January 2026, JioStar issued a demand notice for unpaid amounts related to the IPL 2025 and WPL 2025 seasons. Despite providing full access to matches and allowing complete commercial exploitation, the dues remained unpaid even after the cure period expired.
As a result, all licensed rights have automatically reverted to JioStar. The company has demanded immediate payment of all outstanding dues along with overdue interest and costs, and has instructed Excel Lead (T-Sports) to immediately cease any broadcast, streaming, promotion or exploitation of the rights in Bangladesh. Any continued use would constitute unauthorised exploitation.
JioStar is also considering legal proceedings, including interim and injunctive relief, to protect the commercial value of these high-profile cricket properties.
In a separate development, JioStar has invoked arbitration against Green Bean Sports Marketing (an affiliate of Gazi TV Bangladesh) over a sublicensing agreement for IPL television media rights in Bangladesh for the 2023–27 seasons. The agreement was terminated in January 2025 due to contractual breaches and payment issues.
Industry sources say JioStar remains confident in the judicial process and is determined to recover all outstanding amounts, including interest and litigation costs, in full.
The developments highlight a growing zero-tolerance approach by rights holders towards payment defaults and unauthorised exploitation in South Asia’s lucrative sports media market, where marquee cricket properties continue to command premium valuations.
In the high-stakes game of cricket broadcasting, it seems JioStar has decided that when payments don’t come, the game stops and the rights go back to the rightful owner.
