Rahul Dravid has been named the brand ambassador for the second T20 World Cup for the Blind. He was asked to also mentor the visually- impaired players.
Dravid said at a press conference this week, “Actually, I might need some mentoring from them. What they do is a lot tougher than what I did. It would be foolish for me to say that I can mentor them because I have never experienced what it is like to be a visually-impaired cricketer. My role is to create awareness about this event.”
Whenever Dravid joins any cricket team, it is anticipated he will be a philosopher and guide. This time his achievement could turn out to be different. He tried playing cricket earlier this year in Delhi by blindfolding himself. He said that the experience was really revealing in many ways. It was extremely difficult to get over the fear of an object coming toward you and not being able to see it, he said. The ball came very fast and he backed out soon as he was not able to do it.
He further said, “These cricketers play with so much enthusiasm despite their handicap. All of us face challenges in our lives, and these boys inspire us to overcome them.” His presence has helped in filling the venues for the cricket matches.
The tournament will start Jan. 28 next year across eight cities in India. The cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust- The Cricket Association for the Blind in India will play host. The Samarthanam Trust won the first edition of the championship, which was held in Bengaluru.
According to the Cricket Association of India, the total expense for organizing the event is ₹24.5 crore. G K Mahantesh, the president of the Association has appealed to different corporates, the government and individuals for financial support.
He said, “To help raise funds, the association will sell balls used in blind cricket. Each ball costs ₹200, and orders for the same can be placed online.” The president also said that the Board of Control for Cricket India has not given an official recognition yet to the association but has promised to give financial support.
