Latest news with #Batish
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Indian Panthers suspension: Companies out of pocket, CEO Parveen Batish alleged to owe thousands of dollars
Pure Athletic owner Chris McKinley told the Herald he was approached by the organisation in February with an urgent request for supporter tees. 'They ordered 1500 tees and we gave them a super price to help them out as they were a new team coming into the NBL.' McKinley said the total invoice was $21,562.50. He said his business would normally get a 50% deposit for this sort of order, but the Panthers needed it 'urgently' and he was told the money was coming. More than two months later, McKinley told the Herald his business has not received a single payment, despite the tees being handed out to supporters at games. He claimed Panthers owner Parveen Batish constantly promised payment via text messages, but didn't follow through. 'I believe this guy Parveen honestly does not care about anybody, he has showed no remorse and just treats people like s***.' Meanwhile, Auckland-based business Makers Merch has referred the embattled organisation to the Disputes Tribunal, also citing a failure to pay for customised merchandise. Owner Troy Signal told the Herald he supplied the Panthers with a few thousand units of hand clappers, branded with the organisation's logo. 'Usually what we do is we don't take any orders without payment upfront ... out of goodwill we released the goods so that they would get them before their deadline.' Signal claimed payment is also more than two months overdue and that Batish had stopped answering his phone calls. '[It's] a couple of thousand dollars. It's nothing huge, but being a small business operating only nine months ... obviously it's still an amount that does sting us when it comes out of the back pocket. The Panthers – owned by India's INBL Pro league and Batish – have had a turbulent tenure off the court since announcing they would join the NBL late last year, which in turn has led to a winless season from nine games. Visa delays for Indian players and national team commitments led to the organisation recruiting New Zealanders to fill in. Originally appointed head coach Miles Pearce also resigned after one game. In their recent outing against the Canterbury Rams in Pukekohe, the game was called off due to the Panthers being unable to field a full squad. It is understood the team was planning a protest over lack of payment and treatment of players. Advertise with NZME. Speaking to the Herald on Thursday, before it was announced the Panthers would be suspended indefinitely, Batish confirmed there were outstanding invoices the organisation needed to pay suppliers. 'We know we're at fault. We have been slow at making some payments and financially we haven't been as professional as we should have been,' Batish said. Asked if he was aware the organisation had been referred to the Disputes Tribunal, Batish said yes, but he had not heard from any tribunal so far. 'It's not like we're running away, we are here. Sometimes you might have to wait ... He's entitled to do exactly what he's doing and that's okay, but my commitment to him and to you is that they will be paid. 'There has been a timing issue, I've apologised to them profusely for that, but not from a commitment to run away.' Batish claimed all outstanding invoices would be paid by May 15 – in line with a commitment made to the NBL. 'I've always said to any supplier that has come forward that 100% we will pay you, but right now I'm trying to work out exactly when that would be.' Asked about other outstanding payments, Batish said he could 'hand on heart' say all New Zealand players from the Panthers had been paid completely. As for Panthers staff, Batish said they have had some interim payments and were not fully up to date, 'but they will be and they know that'.
NZ Herald
30-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Indian Panthers: NBL team's CEO responds to concerns about pay delays
Indian Panthers CEO Parveen Batish admits players were being short-changed, but said the matter had been resolved ahead of the Rams contest. 'There's some truth in that, I won't deny that – but that's been rectified,' he told Newstalk ZB. 'I had a discussion with three or four of the players, told them what was going to happen. 'Were they OK with what I was planning to do and would they be playing? The answer was yes. And then I heard nothing from them all day.' Batish said cashflow issues led to payments – which he says amounted to $3,200 – being delayed. 'For a new company, sometimes it's just cashflow. We've come off the back of our largest league in India and so sometimes, that just happens. 'But it wasn't that we didn't communicate what was happening, because we did. Discover more 'We're not the first company to be in cashflow issues.' However, a source within the Panthers organisation spoken to by ZB claims that players, coaches and operational staff had yet to be fully paid. The living conditions were particularly difficult for the team's four overseas players who made the trip to New Zealand, with the source saying the imports were leaning on food banks after being given a credit card that had insufficient funds. 'Everyone is frustrated, everyone is tired and the sad thing is this is the product,' the source told Newstalk ZB. The source also claimed the team had been without their interim coach Goodman, CEO Batish and their general manager for a fortnight, with the trio based in Melbourne. 'We haven't had practice, there's no training facility and there's no schedule.' There were also frustrations over the delayed arrival of the team's Indian players. 'Every week we'd ask when the rest of the guys were coming from India and there was no definitive answer.' The source believes the difficulties faced by Indian players already with the Panthers in New Zealand were putting off their compatriots in India. Batish acknowledged the issues the new franchise has faced, admitting the team had fallen short of expectations. 'We haven't delivered the product that we promised, so having three Indian players when we should've had eight to 10, that's our fault. So, our overreliance on local players, which has led to this, shouldn't have happened in the first place.' In a statement, the NBL said they had known about the delayed payments since last Friday and were considering their options regarding the Panthers' future. Advertise with NZME. But the Panthers source claims officials from the NBL and Basketball New Zealand had known about the delayed payments for three weeks. That in turn, led to the planned televised protest against the Rams in an effort to be heard, before the game was canned at the eleventh hour. It's understood the team's mid-season shift from Takanini to Pukekohe for their home games, was due to the club being unable to afford the operational costs at Pulman Arena. The source was adamant that there was no future in sight for the Indian Panthers, and that if the franchise continued, the concerns around player payments would heighten. All 12 clubs – including the Panthers – met league officials, with Batish staking his claim for his franchise to remain. 'I presented to the other clubs and it was a discussion; it was an opportunity for them to ask questions of us and ask questions of the league. 'But there was certainly no consensus out of that meeting to say that our license should be removed. If there was, then there would've been a second meeting that I don't know anything about.' A source within the NBL confirmed there was only one meeting between the clubs, and that no vote took place. That same source expected the league to announce the removal of the Indian Panthers license.
RNZ News
30-04-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Unpaid salary claims, postponed game add to Indian Panthers' debut season woes
The Panthers' game against the Canterbury Rams on Tuesday night was postponed after the team was unable to field enough players. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The Indian Panthers' turbulent debut in the National Basketball League came to a head on Tuesday after allegations surfaced on social media of unpaid salaries and growing dissatisfaction in the squad. Parveen Batish, CEO of the Panthers, said the issues had since been resolved, acknowledging there had been some delays in salary payments. "We have been a bit slow in terms of payment, but that has been rectified," Batish said Wednesday. "The actual amount that was owed was $3200." The Panthers' game against the Canterbury Rams on Tuesday night was postponed after the team was unable to field enough players. The situation then escalated after former Panthers player Alex Robinson Jr., who parted ways with the team earlier this month, posted a pointed message on Instagram on Tuesday evening alleging that he had not been paid. "Dear @indianpanthersofficial. I was part of your organisation for two months, during which I gave my full commitment, effort and passion to every game. Unfortunately, I was repeatedly promised payment that was never fulfilled," he wrote. "This situation not only impacts me personally but also affects my son and my family. I sincerely hope you find it within your hearts to honour your commitments and compensate all of us who gave our blood, sweat and tears to represent and support this organisation." Robinson has since joined the Nelson Giants. The Panthers' inaugural season has been fraught with challenges. The team played without any of the 10 Indian players originally named in the squad in their season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on 12 March due to international commitments. Further turbulence hit in March when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days before the Panthers' first home game. The team is yet to register a win after nine matches and, since April, has shifted its base from Bruce Pulman Arena in South Auckland to Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre. Parveen Batish is CEO of the Indian Panthers. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Batish said player payments would not be an issue in future. "This won't happen again. Our primary aim is to give Indian players the opportunity to play in a league that's been going for over 40 years and is well established," he said. He said he had spoken with the entire squad, and they had agreed to play in the next game. "I just want to put ... in perspective what the issue is. Everyone thinks this is all about player payments," Batish said. "This is not the case. This is about an individual running their agenda to bring the game and the team into disrepute." He did not name the individual but confirmed they are no longer part of the organisation. Batish denied claims that Robinson left the team due to payment issues, claiming the delay was only with the final installment and was tied to his contract's termination. He said Robinson left one game at halftime, returned home and packed his bags. "[Robinson] didn't talk about money," Batish said. "He was talking about the fact that he has to look after the stats, and that's important for his next game. He wasn't scoring points in that match." Alex Robinson Jr. left Indian Panthers in April. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Robinson told RNZ on Wednesday he simply acted in the same way as the other players acted on Tuesday evening, referring to allegations that payments were outstanding. "A month ago, I sat out because of the same thing the players currently are going through. … I wasn't paid what I was owed," Robinson said. "The way I left was a reflection of how they communicated with us. I wanted to do the same thing they did to us, just like the current players just did." Batish said most of Robinson's payments were made during his time with the team and only a small amount remained upon termination of his contract, an amount that had since been settled. Looking ahead, Batish said the team planned to bring in more Indian players and reduce its reliance on Kiwi talent. "As far as the community is concerned, we failed in that we haven't had the Indian talent that we wanted," he said. "We need to rectify that before we can go any further. That's no different to the message I gave eight weeks ago when we first started. We just haven't delivered." Batish said the team had moved to Franklin to reduce costs, potentially halving matchday expenses. "It's not about where we live. This is about actually showing that we have Indian players at the heart of our team, and that's what we want to show going forward," Batish said. "We're not the Takanini Panthers. We're called the Indian Panthers." Despite the team's winless opening run, Batish said he wasn't overly concerned. "I'm not too concerned about the win, to be honest with you," he said. "We're not the only team without a win. It's not about the wins and losses. It's about whether we're living up to what we said we would. "And right now, no, we're not. In the future - 100% - we will be. That's what we have to do." In a statement, the National Basketball League and Basketball New Zealand convened a meeting Wednesday with representatives from all 12 teams in the league, including the Indian Panthers. The statement said the league had been made aware of delayed payments to Indian Panthers' players and staff on 25 April and a formal meeting had taken place on Monday. "On the morning of Tuesday 29 April, the league was informed that a number of Panthers players had received payment, and plans were in place for the game against the Rams to proceed," the statement said. "However, prior to tip-off, Panthers players elected not to take the court, and the league made the decision to postpone the game." The National Basketball League said it was currently working through a number of options regarding the future of the Indian Panthers in the competition and would make another statement within the next 24 hours.
