Samir Kasal has taken his case to the Delhi High Court, saying he’s a recognized name in sports and entertainment. Over the years, he’s put together major events and worked with Indian Premier League teams like the Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers.

Based on his background in cricket, Kasal came up with an idea for a new kind of International Cricket League. The twist? It would feature two teams made up entirely of retired cricket stars from around the world. The format was meant to follow standard T20 rules, except each team would play two innings instead of one.

Kasal says he developed this concept with Mr. Prashant Mehta, listed as Defendant No. 1. Together, they called it the “Legends Premier League.”

To bring in investors, Defendant No. 1 shared the idea with Defendant No. 2, who backed the “Legends Premier League” plan. Player contracts were drafted and approved, and the group agreed to split equity in the company. But when the pandemic hit, everything stalled — no matches were held in 2020 or 2021.

While things were on pause, Defendant No. 2 quietly shifted gears. He moved forward with setting up a separate company. At first, he included Defendant No. 1 in the plan, but later cut him out. His goal was to launch a new league with retired cricket legends under a different name — the “Legends Cricket League.”

The plaintiff found out about this in November 2021 and turned to the Delhi High Court, hoping to set things straight.

Cricket and Copyright

The court first had to decide whether a cricket league — or the game of cricket itself — could be protected by copyright. After reviewing the case, it ruled that the plaintiff’s tournament idea doesn’t count as a “work” under the Copyright Act of 1957. Sporting events follow fixed rules and don’t involve enough creative input to be treated as intellectual property.

The court also pointed out key differences between the two leagues. They had different names, formats, and team setups. Based on that, it found no sign of copyright violation. The only thing both concepts had in common was cricket — and that, the court said, can’t be owned by anyone.

The purpose of copyright law is to promote creativity and public awareness. The Delhi High Court rejected the plaintiff’s petition, noting that granting copyright protection to cricket would make the sport less accessible. And in India, cricket is played by nearly everyone. As a result, Samir Kasal lost the case.

The case drew significant attention amid cricket’s growing popularity. Beyond the success of the IPL, bookmakers have also played a role in boosting interest by attracting new clients through gifts and promotions. Sources from iplbettingapps.com.in reported that numerous no-deposit bonuses are now offered by well-known betting companies across India. These incentives have not only expanded bookmaker audiences but also brought more people into cricket viewership.

Moreover, the sport has gained traction outside of India, including in countries where it previously had little following. The United States, for example, has seen a noticeable increase in cricket viewership — likely linked to the growth of the Indian diaspora.