Botham apologizes to wife
UNI & EEB

LONDON, JAN 15: Former England cricket star Ian Botham has issued a public apology to his wife and family after details of his alleged affair with an Australian waitress were published in a British tabloid.

The News of the World reported that Botham began having an affair with Kylie Verrells, a 31-year-old single mother, after the two met in Sydney on New Year's eve in 1988. He was working at the time as a television commentator for the Australia-England Ashes tour. The newspaper quoted Verrells as saying that Botham took her and her 7-year-old daughter to Scotland, traveled with her to Paris and sent her intimate E-mails. Verrells said she eventually realised that Botham would not leave his wife, Kathy, 42. The couple have three children.

``This is obviously a very difficult time for my family and friends,'' Botham said in a statement issued on Sunday. ``I am extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment I have caused to them and in particular to my wife''.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.