Latest news with #IndianPanthers
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Why the Indian Panthers' debut season ended in failure
Indian Panthers CEO Parveen Batish Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Indian Panthers CEO Parveen Batish has blamed the franchise's inability to bring less than half of its Indian-based players to New Zealand as the main reason for withdrawing his team from the National Basketball League. Just three of the 10 Indian players initially named in the squad travelled to New Zealand, an outcome Batish blamed for the franchise's disastrous debut season. Batish withdrew the franchise from the tournament on Monday, acknowledging it was unable to meet the conditions laid down by the league to complete the season. The league accepted the Panthers' withdrawal from the competition subject to the finalisation of an agreement that ensured the franchise paid compensation for pulling the plug. The league also wanted the franchise to honour all outstanding payments to creditors, including players and staff. Batish vowed to compensate the league and pay all creditors, including players and staff, "in a short period of time". "[Even after what has happened] everyone involved understands the vision and the opportunity was great," Batish said. "Everyone has left on good terms." The Panthers' chief acknowledged that mistakes were made early in the launch. "We underestimated how difficult it would be to bring a team from a different country for five months to play here in New Zealand. Unfortunately, we ran into all sort of problems, including visa issues for Indian players," Batish said. "So, we decided the best thing would be to withdraw from the league so that the season can continue as in the past." Batish said the franchise's inability to bring over a full complement of players from India was primarily to blame for the debacle. "Our vision was to provide Indian basketball players an opportunity to play in a well-established league," he said. "[So] the first part, which we weren't able to fulfil, was to bring the right number of Indian players over to play in the league." The non-availability of Indian players due to their commitments with the Indian national basketball team also contributed to its woes, Batish said. "Because of this, we were over-reliant on New Zealand players, which was not something we wanted," he said. The team's debut season was fraught with challenges from the start. The team took the court without any of the Indian players initially named in the squad in its season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks, citing international commitments . Further disruption followed when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days before the Panthers' first home fixture. Tensions reached a boiling point at the end of April, when players refused to play against the Canterbury Rams in protest over delayed payments, prompting the match to be postponed . The franchise then shifted its base from Takanini to Pukekohe to save costs. The Panthers didn't win any of the nine league games they played, raising serious questions about performance. The National Basketball League suspended the Panthers on 1 May over allegations of non-payments. On 9 May, the league issued an ultimatum to the Panthers to satisfy a series of requirements within 10 days , with financial viability a key area of concern. That deadline expired on Monday, which was when the Panthers voluntarily withdrew from the competition. Batish, who spoke passionately about the Indian connection of the team at the season launch in March , apologised to the community for failing to see the season out. "Firstly, to the Indian community, thank you for your support. [In the short period] we have been here we have seen opportunities in basketball here. I encourage young players from the community to keep seeking those opportunities," Batish said. "Secondly, I am sorry [for what has happened] and that we couldn't compete for the whole season."
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Panthers withdraw from NBL
The Indian Panthers are half of one and done. They have withdrawn from the National Basketball League midway through their rookie season. The Auckland-based team have been forced to acknowledge they can not meet their obligations as set down in the participation agreement, and have pulled out of the league. And by that, you can read that they have not paid their bills. It has been a complete debacle. The league previously gave them 10 days to meet their obligations or face expulsion. That deadline lapsed on Monday, and there had been radio silence until yesterday. The Panthers opted to fall on their sword instead. Their withdrawal from the league is immediate. The nine games they played are null and void, although individual statistics will remain on the official record. Perhaps the situation would have been left to fester longer had their players not taken action and boycotted the game against the Canterbury Rams in Auckland on April 29. Up until then, there had been rumours the Panthers were struggling, but the boycott shone a light on the situation. The saga might have another chapter. The league has accepted the Panthers' withdrawal on the basis they honour outstanding payments to creditors, including players and staff, as well as compensation to the league. "When we embarked on the Panthers project, our shared vision was to provide Indian players with a platform to develop and showcase their talents on a respected and historically significant stage," the Panthers said in a statement yesterday. "However, the journey has presented unforeseen challenges. "While some obstacles were within our control, others were not. "In hindsight, fielding a team abroad for five months has proven more complex than anticipated, and we do not foresee a resolution in the immediate future." The Panthers had also been granted entry in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, but will no longer participate in the women's league. The Southern Hoiho's participation in Tauihi is also in doubt after the team's owners, SEN, surrendered the playing licence earlier in the year. The Indian Panthers' entry into the NBL will go down in New Zealand sporting history as one of its worst failed experiments. They immediately had trouble delivering on the hype surrounding their inclusion. The team took the court without any of the Indian players initially named in the squad for their season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on March 12. They cited international commitments for the delay in getting players out to New Zealand, but many of them never arrived. There were further disruptions when coach Miles Pearce quit two days before their first home game. Tensions erupted when the team boycotted the Rams' game in protest over delayed payments. And the situation became even more untenable when star import Alex Robinson jun posted claims on social media that he had not been paid. They also made the decision to relocate from their initial base at the Bruce Pulman Arena to the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Indian Panthers withdraw from National Basketball League
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The Indian Panthers have withdrawn from the National Basketball League, acknowledging the franchise is not in a position to meet the requirements of the league to complete the season. The Panthers accepted the franchise has not delivered what it set out to achieve and apologised to supporters and fans. On 9 May, the Panthers were issued an ultimatum to satisfy a series of requirements within 10 days, with financial viability a key area of concern. That deadline expired on Monday. RNZ also revealed on Monday the South Asian players who had been recruited in the Indian Panthers squad had returned to India, a development that was confirmed by a former staff member of the franchise. The franchise had already been suspended from the league on 1 May following a string of allegations, including contractual breaches, unpaid wages and internal disarray. The Indian Panthers' debut season has been fraught with challenges. The team took the court without any of the 10 Indian players initially named in the squad in its season opener against the Hawke's Bay Hawks on 12 March, citing international commitments. Further disruption followed when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days before the Panthers' first home fixture. Tensions reached a boiling point on 29 April, when players refused to play against the Canterbury Rams in protest over delayed payments, prompting the match to be postponed. The situation escalated further after former Panthers player Alex Robinson Jr. posted a pointed message on Instagram, alleging he had not been paid. Robinson has since left the team and signed with the Nelson Giants. After nine matches without a league win, the team relocated its South Auckland base in April from Bruce Pulman Arena in Takanini to the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe. More to come ...
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Indian Panthers players reportedly return to India as termination deadline nears
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The South Asian players who were recruited in the Indian Panthers squad have returned to India, RNZ understands. A source inside the squad told RNZ that all three Indian players who had been playing in the National Basketball League for the franchise landed in India on Sunday. Meanwhile, a former staff member of the franchise said the trio had flown out of Auckland earlier Sunday. RNZ has approached the Indian Panthers and the National Basketball League for comment. On 9 May, the franchise was given 10 days to meet specific conditions to avoid being ejected from the league . The league gave the Panthers until 19 May to prove their financial sustainability, among other things, to allow them to stay in the league. The team was suspended on 1 May after the league received allegations of contractual breaches, including unpaid salaries and internal unrest. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom Tensions flared on 29 April when Panthers players refused to take the court against the Canterbury Rams in protest over delayed payments, resulting in the match being postponed. The situation escalated further after former Panthers player Alex Robinson Jr. posted a pointed message on Instagram, alleging he had not been paid. Robinson has since left the team and signed with the Nelson Giants. The turmoil was the latest in a series of setbacks the team has faced in their debut season. 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. The Panthers faced another setback in March when head coach Miles Pearce resigned just two days ahead of their first home game. After nine matches without a league win, the team relocated its South Auckland base in April from Bruce Pulman Arena in Takanini to the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe.
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Ultimatum for Panthers
The Indian Panthers have 10 days to resolve their financial issues or they will be booted out of the National Basketball League. The league has taken the extraordinary step because the Auckland-based team's owners have failed to deliver the required funding and bills are not being paid. "The Panthers have now been given until Monday 19 May ... to fully adhere to all conditions. If not satisfied the Participation Agreement will end." Their games against the Southland Sharks on May 14 and the Otago Nuggets on May 16 have ben postponed. — APL
