Cricket’s most prestigious event, the ODI Cricket World Cup, is starting from today. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Sachin Tendulkar as its Global Ambassador on Tuesday. This prestigious appointment recognises Tendulkar’s immense contribution to the sport and his iconic status in the cricketing world. Sachin still holds the record of featuring in six 50-over World Cup’s, no other player has ever achieved this feat. On Thursday, October 5, Sachin will be walking out with the World Cup trophy before the opening match between England and New Zealand, which will be played in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

“As I am eagerly anticipating this fantastic tournament here in India, I am also thrilled to see so many special teams and players compete fiercely. I hope this edition inspires young girls and boys to take up the sport and represent their respective countries at the highest level as marquee events like the World Cup. I have always been fascinated by World Cup’s, having started as a ball boy in the 1987 edition to represent my country in six editions. Winning the World Cup in 2011 is the proudest moment of my cricketing career, ” Tendulkar said.

A diverse group of ICC ambassadors will be featured at the largest Cricket World Cup ever, including West Indies legend Vivian Richards, South Africa’s AB de Villiers, England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Australia’s former captain Aaron Finch, Sri Lanka’s spin wizard Muttiah Muralidharan, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, India’s south-paw Suresh Raina, former India women’s team captain Mithali Raj and Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez.

The ODI World Cup is one of the most competitive cricketing tournaments, bringing together teams from different nations to compete for the ultimate glory. The 2023 edition is scheduled to be held in India alone, which adds an extra element of significance for Tendulkar, as he is regarded as a national hero in his home country. In his role as a Global Ambassador, Tendulkar will represent the ICC, attending various events, promoting the tournament, and engaging with fans and stakeholders to enhance the tournament’s global reach and impact.

“It’s an honour to have Sachin Tendulkar as our Global Ambassador as we celebrate One-day cricket and prepare for what will be the biggest Men’s Cricket World Cup ever,” we can’t wait to see him in action with nine other legends of the game, said Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager for Marketing and Communications.