Shashi Tharoor who had to resign as Union Minister in the wake of IPL controversy today attended a meeting of the Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) which owns the competition's latest team Kochi.
Tharoor took part in the discussions as the "mentor" of the franchise and sought the support of all sections for the success of the team, consortium sources said.
The six-member team of the consortium held discussions with the KCA office-bearers on the conduct of IPL matches of the Kochi team and exuded confidence that the controversy surrounding their ownership pattern would not affect their participation in the IPL next year.
RSW, which owns the Kochi franchise, said it would be a team Kerala which will play its matches in the next IPL season in Kochi.
"These controversies are not going to come in our way," Vivek Venugopal, one of the owners of the consortium, told reporters here.
Certain technical problems for conducting the matches at the Jawaharalal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor in Kochi have been raised by certain quarters, but with the help of Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), the Consortium expected that the matches would be held there, Venugopal said.
KCA Secretary T C Mathew said a proposal to organise Kerala Cricket League was also under consideration. This would help promote Cricket in Kerala and spot young talents and train them.
Asked about Tharoor's friend Sunanda Pushkar's statement on returning her sweat equity, Rendezvous CEO P T Kesav said, "Her statement has come to our notice. We will take a decision on that after holding a meeting of investors and partners."
"All the financial affairs of the consortium were transparent," he added.
Venugopal and Kesav said the controversy should be forgotten for the benefit of cricket and Kerala.
