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Sunanda
severs IPL links

DUBAI — The IPL row has finally taken its toll. Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor has been forced to bow out. Meanwhile, his Dubai-based friend Sunanda Pushkar, has offered to give up her sweat equity in the Kochi franchise.

Her lawyer Ashish Mehta of Ashish Mehta and Associates, Dubai, confirmed this to Khaleej Times. It is Sunanda’s bid to put a lid on the controversy, which has thrown her into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

The statement was addressed to the consortium and released to this newspaper. Sunanda is ‘‘distressed by the malicious reporting and deeply unpleasant publicity’ over the past days. ‘‘I am deeply distressed at the vile and malicious reporting of recent days surrounding my role in Rendezvous, the successful bidders for the Kerala IPL Team.’’ She reiterates her credentials as a woman professional and a successful businesswoman of 20 years standing.

‘‘As a woman professional, I am shocked to find how easily certain parties with vested interest questioned my credentials merely because I am a woman. I therefore voluntarily offer to return to Rendezvous the sweat equity they had offered me.’’

Sunanda is now keen to distance herself from all activities of the team after the unsavoury scandal and is emphatic that she is seeking nothing for her work with the consortium. ‘‘I do NOT intend to seek compensation for the efforts I have made so far for them,’’ she says.

It is clear that the lady had long-term plans with the new franchise as is evident in the statement. ‘‘I had been looking forward to contributing over the next ten years to building the team’s brand, organising events for it and marketing the team in India and the Gulf, in particular.’’

‘‘Given the deeply unpleasant publicity surrounding my involvement, I can no longer imagine being able to find the enthusiasm required to associate myself with any IPL activity in the foreseeable future.’’ The entrepreneur also leaves behind an emotional trail and brings her Kerala links to the fore. ‘‘As the mother of a half-Malayali son, I wish Kerala cricket well and I hope this team succeeds handsomely in IPL-4 and in the years to come.’’