'Pushkar no longer has shares in Kochi IPL franchise'

Former Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor, today said his wife, Sunanda Pushkar, had no connection with the Kochi IPL team after she returned her stakes in the Rendezvous Sports World consortium (RSW) a few months earlier.

Talking to reporters here, Tharoor said his wife had returned all the shares she had with the consortium. “She was in the promotional group initially. But after a controversy broke out, she returned all her shares,” Tharoor said.

Tharoor said he wanted to help the consortium overcome the current problems resulting from the differences between share holders to ensure the state did not lose the IPL team allotted to it.

“What we should do is to ensure that 11 cricketers are playing for Kochi IPL team next season. Everyone should be prepared for compromises. Though I do not have personal involvement in the consortium, I am ready to help and have already spoken with some owners in the group over phone,” he said.

Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) had yesterday decided to hold talks with the owners of the Kochi IPL franchise on October 7 to solve the problems in the consortium which won the bid for the team for Rs 1,530 crore.

The KCA’s decision was in the backdrop of the Board of Control for Cricket in

India issuing a showcause notice to the Kochi franchisee, directing it to register their joint venture under the Companies Act within 10 days or face action.