Rahul Dravid chosen as brand ambassador for Blind Cricket World Cup

Former Indian batsman Rahul Dravid has stated his pride on being named as the brand ambassador for the upcoming Blind T20 World Cup. Interestingly, Dravid also went on to mention that even if the norms of blind cricket allowed him to play blindfolded, he would not have some of the ‘impressive’ qualities of the blind players.

“I am not good enough playing blind cricket. It is rather difficult proposition because I have never played the game as they play. They have exceptional qualities,” he told reporters after announcing Dravid as brand ambassador for the Second T20 World Cup For Blind and release of world cup fixtures.

The Blind World T20 will begin on the 28th of January and will conclude on the 12th of February. The inauguration of the tournament will take place in Delhi and will conclude in Bengaluru. India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, England, Nepal, and New Zealand will take part in the tournament.

Rahul Dravid also went on to commend the awareness Blind cricket has created in recent times. “Blind cricket, to begin with, was small, not huge. Maybe it was a lack of awareness and opportunity, but over the last three to four years even the blind cricket has grown a lot and is going in right direction,” he said.

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“The growth of blind cricket adds to the opportunity that exists for them to able to showcase what they are doing and it is up to the cricketers and people to recognize the great work being done,” he said.

When asked about mentoring the blind team, Dravid said that G K Mahantesh, Senior Vice President of World Blind Cricket Limited  would and are doing a better job compared to him. “I think I might need some mentoring from them. What they do is a lot of tougher than what I did. People like Mahantesh are their mentors. What I can do is just create awareness,” he said.