Sydney, Mar. 12 (ANI): Aussie cricketer Michael Clarke and his model girlfriend Lara Bingle have officially called off their engagement, ten days after a women’s magazine published Bingle’s nude picture in its edition.

International Quarterback, the public relations firm representing the star cricketer, broke the official news in a brief statement to the media on Friday.

“Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle have decided to end their engagement. They ask the media to respect their privacy during this difficult time. No further comment will be made,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted from the statement, as saying.

The Sydney media hounded the pair in the days leading up to the announcement after scandal forced Clarke to abandon the New Zealand one-day cricket tour and return to Sydney.

The move came after Bingle, 22, did an exclusive interview with Women’s Day magazine, which also published her nude picture.

Bingle claims that AFL footballer Brendan Fevola circulated a nude photo of her taken in a shower during an affair between the pair in 2006, and is seeking to sue him in court.

According to reports, Clarke was opposed to Bingle granting the interview, saying it would resurrect old news and intrude into the couple’s private life.

They added that Bingle was paid as much as 200,000 dollars for the interview and photo shoot but her manager Max Markson and the magazine have denied this.

Markson said Bingle had decided to give an “undisclosed amount” of the money she was paid for the interview to charity. (ANI)