A file photo of Sachin Tendulkar. Photo: Rajanish Kakade/AP
Sachin Tendulkar is the latest name announced by the ICC to be a brand ambassador of the ICC World Cup 2015. Earlier, current players such as Indian batsman Virat Kohli, Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane Watson, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, and former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara had been appointed ambassadors for cricket’s most-anticipated event.
According to a media release by icc-cricket.com, Tendulkar said, “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed ICC Cricket World Cup Ambassador for the second successive time. After playing in the last six editions, the upcoming World Cup will be a different experience as I will follow it from the sidelines. It could probably be comparable to the ICC Cricket World Cup 1987 where I was a ball boy, enthusiastically cheering every ball.”
He continued, saying, “The excitement of the World Cup grows with every new edition and this year’s host nations, Australia and New Zealand, are known for their sporting culture, great cricket facilities and knowledgeable crowds. Lifting the World Cup is every international cricketer’s quest and the tournament brings out the best of individuals and competing teams. The image of the champion team lifting the World Cup inspires many youngsters around the world and gives them a dream to chase — a dream which I fulfilled after 22 years of relentless pursuit by being part of the victorious Indian team in 2011.”
The 2015 edition will be the 11th cricket World Cup since 1975, and will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from February 14 onward. The matches will be held at various venues such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in Australia, and Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington in New Zealand.
