World Cup radio broadcaster Channel 2 to consider legal recourse against Indian partner Sports Flashes for alleged default of payments to former cricketers

The official radio feed broadcaster for the World Cup 2019, Channel 2, is considering to initiate legal proceedings against its Indian partner and sub-leased company Sports Flashes for the alleged failure of payments and a mix-up in the transmission of feed of the showpiece tournament. 

Sports Flashes, a radio channel in India, has allegedly not made payments as promised to many former cricketers whom they roped in for commentary, hence disrupting the audio feed during the tournament. 

Dubai-based Channel 2 earned the digital audio rights of World Cup 2019, which it further sub-leased to multiple radio stations across the world to reach out to 1 billion cricket fans. Sports Flashes in one such Indian radio channel that was entrusted with the task to produce live audio feed for the World Cup. 

False reports of Channel 2 allegedly being guilty over defaulting payments to former cricketers and commentators circulated around the media, following which Channel 2 stated in a press release that the issues of payments were entirely matters between Sports Flashes Pvt Ltd and the individuals and that Channel 2 had nothing to do with it. 

READ | Virat Kohli And Jasprit Bumrah Retain Lead In ICC ODI Rankings

Many former cricketers such as Mohammed Kaif, Atul Wassan, and Syed Kirmani were roped in by Sports Flashes to run the audio commentary for the World Cup but have failed to receive payments from the company, with cheques bouncing on multiple occasions. 

Atul Wassan, a former Indian cricketer, hit out at Sports Flashes and called it a dodgy outfit. "No payment has been pending from Channel 2 and I had cut my association with Sports Flashes after one match due to unprofessional setup and attitude and subsequently I got to know that a lot of players have not been paid by Sports Flashes", he said as per ANI.   

It has been learnt that strong differences cropped up over some issues, which resulted in bouncing of cheques, non-payments and finally a mess of the radio broadcast.

READ | BCCI To Invite Fresh Applications For Team India Support Staff, Ravi Shastri Will have To Re-apply To Be Team Coach