Kapil Dev pledges to donate eyes

Cricket icon Kapil Dev on Friday pledged to donate his eyes to the National Association for the Blind, a Mumbai-based organisation working for the visually challenged.

"I will put it in my will," Kapil said at a function in Mumbai.

"Just to think that a large number of people in this world do not have eyes is painful. I always thought let me be a part of the programme to ensure eyesight to those who don't have it," he said.

Holding a blind person by his side, a visibly emotional Kapil remarked, "It will definitely be great if somebody can see this world through my eyes when I am no longer here."

Later, when a reporter asked when did he think of making the announcement, the ace all-rounder, in his inimitable style shot back: "Yeh sab soch ke nahi kiya jata, Dil ne awaz di.. . (You don't do such a thing by planning. It was a call from the heart)."

NAB secretary Dinoo Gandhi said the former India captain has joined the group of celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwariya Rai and cricketer (late) Vijay Merchant, who also pledged to donate their eyes.

Asked whether he consulted his family members, especially wife Romi, before deciding to donate eyes, Kapil Dev said: "I don't have to, you should not be looking for permission for such a work."

Mail Cricket Editor