Sachin Tendulkar to be face of Kerala govt’s campaign against drug, liquor abuse

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has agreed to a request of CPI-M led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala to use his name in a campaign against drug and liquor abuse in the state.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has agreed to a request of CPI-M led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala to use his name in a campaign against drug and liquor abuse in the state.

File photo of Sachin waving Indian Tricolour after Team India's victory over Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final. (AFP)

This was stated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan after Tendulkar along with three other co-owners of the Kerala Blasters Football Club (KBFC) met him at the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

“Tendulkar has given consent to use his name to strengthen the campaign against liquor and drug abuse in the state. He has agreed to cooperate in the campaign,” he told reporters.

Asked whether Tendulkar would be the state’s ‘ambassador’ for the campaign, Vijayan said all those things would be discussed later.

Vijayan also said the KBFC has agreed to set up a residential Football Academy to train young talents in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Tendulkar said the main mission of the academy was to produce international level players from the soccer-crazy state in the next five years.

Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi, actor Akkineni Naagarjuna and Prasad, the co-owners of the KBFC, state sports minister EP Jayarajan, finance minister TM Thomas Issac were also present on the occasion.