Who will Shastri sign up?

Ravi Shastri, the former Indian captain and all-rounder, has added buzz to the cricket-management industry by launching Showdiff Worldwide, in partnership with Rediffusion-Dentsu Young & Rubicam. Billed as a talent and event management company, it aims to manage a wide variety of personalities and events, from film to sport to fashion.

The launch of this company, announced at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, comes at a time when speculation is rife about Sourav Ganguly's association with Percept D' Mark. Ganguly's contract with Percept D'Mark ends in September and according to uncomfirmed reports, he has been offered a Rs 60 crore deal by World Sports Group Nimbus.

In Shastri's case however, the main point of interest, is Sachin Tendulkar, who has been managed by WorldTel for several years now. But WorldTel has been severely hit by the deaths of Mark Mascarenhas, its founder and guiding spirit, and Sameer Singh, the CEO, both to car crashes in the last two years.

Though Shastri currently holds no official post with WorldTel, it is an open secret that he has been closely associated with it as a player management consultant. It was Shastri that was in fact instrumental in bringing Mascarenhas and Tendulkar together.

"WorldTel will always remain close to my heart," he said at the press conference, adding, "I'm happy to help them (WorldTel) out in any way I can, even today." He added that Showdiff and WorldTel would work together towards a better future.

Shastri also said that Tendulkar will continue to be associated with WorldTel.

When asked which celebrities they had signed up, Showdiff declined to get down to specifics, saying they would announce their signings at an opportune moment.