Tharoor exudes hope IPL Kochi will be a reality

Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor is hoping that the Kochi IPL team will be able to compete in the fourth edition, following the BCCI's decision to postpone a final decision on its fate to December 5.

"I think the team will become a reality as BCCI's decision holds some hope to save it," the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

Tharoor, who had to resign as Minister of State for External Affairs a year back amid controversies over his role as 'mentor' of the Kochi team, said if the team would do good for cricket in Kerala in particular and sporting activities in general.

At a meeting of IPL's Governing Council on Sunday in Nagpur, BCCI put off the decision on the franchise for a third time after expiry of a month-long deadline given to it for sorting out its internal bickering over shareholding.

BCCI President Shashank Manohar said the board would take a decision on December 5.

Kochi was on the verge of being thrown out of IPL due to shareholding dispute between the consortium's investors. But the franchise owners reached a compromise on Saturday.