While Australia is struggling to save face in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 against India, as the visitors are looking at a historic series win down under; more than 30 cricketers might be severely affected by a court ruling regarding their payments from sports company Spartan.

These cricketers include the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Eoin Morgan, and Chris Gayle and a recent court ruling ordered a company of Spartan Sports to be liquidated, leaving payments due for their respective endorsements in limbo.

Latest in the list of cricketers who have pursued matters legally is former left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson, who has filed a separate case against Spartan.

The Sydney-based company, co-founded by Indian entrepreneur Kunal Sharma has defaulted on payments amounting to crores as it signed some of the biggest names in cricket. The issue was highlighted when former Australia skipper Michael Clarke stopped using their logo on his bat after his payments defaulted.

Even 2-time World Cup-winning former Indian captain MS Dhoni was not spared, as after paying mere four installments of Rs 20-crore bat and sponsorship deal between 2013 and 2016, Spartan Sports ended up defaulting on the rest of the payments.

Similarly, Tendulkar and other cricketers too suffered financially as Spartan defaulted on payments. Tendulkar had launched a range of Spartan’s sportswear and cricket equipment a few years ago.

SSG (wholesale) Australia PTY Ltd — a trading entity of Spartan — was liquidated recently and as a court order ensures liquidation of the sports equipment company’s other financial arms, these former cricketers are busy wondering if they will be finally paid.

Spartan is learned to owe over 60 crore INR to creditors and if the company is liquidated, the cricketers stand to lose a lot of money.

(inputs from TOI)