In a break with tradition, an HIV-positive person will toss the coin for the first cricket Test between India and New Zealand at Ahmedabad next month.
The International Cricket Council, on Thursday, entered into an agreement with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNSAID), wherein it will use the popularity of the game to raise awareness against the dreaded disease in cricket-playing countries.
The ICC will also incorporate UNAIDS education and training messages and materials in its global development programme and encourage various cricket Boards to support the HIV/AIDS issues, according to a joint statement from the ICC and UNAIDS in Mumbai.
"The threat of HIV/AIDS in many of the communities in which cricket is played is acute. I hope that through this
partnership the ICC is able to play its part in helping UNAIDS turn the epidemic around," ICC chief Ehsan Mani said.
In India, the BCCI will work with UNAIDS in a wide range of awareness-raising activities. These include the
distribution of information materials on the disease to sports commentators and journalists.
Out of 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, an estimated 12 million live in cricket-playing countries.
The ICC president said the Board of Control for Cricket in India will be the first to take up the programme under the leadership of its president, Jagmohan Dalmiya.
"To begin with, the ICC will also auction one of the 13 bats signed by the cricketers of the match that will be played in
South Africa in March next year, and the funds raised will be given to the Indian AIDS programme," Mani said.
The programme will help to 'run out' HIV/AIDS from the globe, he added.
UNAIDS Communication Advisor Mahesh Mahalingam said the world body is also having a series of talks with several other sports bodies, both national and international, and hopes to get support from them.
