Amputee cricketer turns brand ambassador for climate change

By Aadil Mir

Srinagar/New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) In a marketing initiative, Rahim Greens Srinagar on Saturday roped in budding cricketer, Amir Hussain Lone, who defied the odds after mastering the sport despite losing both his arms.

The company has signed-up the amputee cricketer from south Kashmir's Anantnag district as a brand ambassador, Abdul Hameed, CEO of Rahim Greens, told IANS.

"The idea is to engage people in saving the environment, climate change is needed, and we feel Amir can be a better person to connect with the youth," Hameed said.

He said the contract with Amir, who also leads the Jammu and Kashmir para-cricket team, is for a year only but can be extended.

Rahim Greens, a venture of Rahim Motors, an automobile service provider, runs a campaign of afforestation for environmental change in Kashmir and surrounding locations.

Our aim is to make an "Incredible Kashmir", Hameed said.

IANS had carried a detailed story on Amir's achievements recently.

Earlier, according to a statement, RAMKY Infrastructure agreed to employ the double-amputee as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The Anantnag district administration had recommended that Lone be employed on a monthly honorarium of Rs 12,000 with RAMKY, which had agreed to employing him under Corporate Social Responsibility, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Muneer-ul Islam was quoted in an official release by the state government.

Amir, who aims to represent India, said that despite it being difficult in the beginning, he never lost hope and continued to play developing his legs to function like arms and hands.

He thanked the company and the district administration for helping him with a job. He said the financial security would mean that "I am always focused on my game".

Amir lost both his arms in a machine accident. But his ability to overcome the misfortune allowed him to play as a cricketer for his state.

Amir is a resident of Waghama village near Bijbhehar on the banks of the Jhelum river, which is part of the Kashmir Valley belt that specialises in making the famed Kashmir Willow bat.

(Aadil Mir can be contacted at aadil.hussain@ians.in)