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NEW DELHI, May 4 (AFP): International advertising major Saatchi and Saatchi has secured the marketing rights for Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for US$ 40 million, officials and media said Thursday.
Iconix, the newly-formed marketing branch of Saatchi, signed Tendulkar, one of the sport's leading batsmen, after his 10-year contract with the US-based WorldTel expired last year.
"It's great to have a legend like Sachin as the first client of Iconix," said V Shantakumar, the chief executive officer and managing director of Saatchi's Indian operations.
"Sachin is more than just a cricket player," he said. "He's a role model for young and old India, Shanthakumar said.
"He's still the nation's youth icon and he's still considered by cricket pundits as the world's best batsman. The value he commands comes from the respect and love people feel for him."
Shanthakumar declined to confirm media speculation that the three-year deal was worth 1.8 billion rupees (US$40 million).
"The amount mentioned is a nice sum, but I am not going to say more," he said.
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