TSE Exclusive: Kevin to remain colourful in IPL 2012

MUMBAI: Kevin O’Brien, the fastest centurion at the 2011 World Cup (Ireland vs England, Bangalore) is hoping to remain colourful in the next IPL season in India.

Speaking exclusively to The Sports Encounter from Dublin, the 28-year-old Ireland all-rounder said, “With my natural hair colour being orange, it makes sense to dye the middle of my head blonde, and the right side of my head green to make the Irish national flag of the Tri-colour”.

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“It’s the third year the Irish cricket team are involved in ”Shave or Dye” campaign which is run so well by a leading radio station here in Ireland, Today FM. The last two years I have dyed my hair blonde and pink, but this year could see a slight change in colours”, he further added.

The shortlist of the 144 players for the IPL 2012 auction includes O’Brien brothers (Kevin and Niall).

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“It would be a great privilege to play in the IPL 2012, as it’s a great chance to play with and against the worlds greatest players. Hopefully my World Cup innings against England will stand me in good stead for being picked up by a franchise on Saturday. I would love to play for any one of the franchises and hope that one of them can see my ability and my results in the UK 20/20 season last year for Gloucestershire where I scored a hundred off 44 balls. With 20/20 cricket being so important for Ireland this year, I want to get as much experience as possible in the most exciting form of the game”, the hard-hitting Irish all-rounder added.

Explaining the reason to be colourful, he said, “It’s a great charity and it touches so many people around the world. Last year it raised over $2 million, and was helped greatly by our magnificent World Cup victory over England”.

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“The public donate money to the charity through the radio station, with text messages, and people calling in to donate money. People donate money to friends and family for either shaving their hair off, or dying their hair colour.  It runs for around two months and sportspeople all around Ireland get involved and do as much as they can to promote and get publicity for the charity”.

“It is in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, which is a self run charity, which was founded in 1963 and has grown into the national charity for cancer care, the leading provider of all information relating to cancer prevention, detection, treatment and support.  They are the largest voluntary funded of cutting edge cancer research in Ireland”.

“Only recently I found out about Yuvraj Singh, who is in all the Irish players’ thoughts. He is a great cricketer, and he was generous enough to swap our signed shirts, with his enscription reading, “Best wishes to Kevin, great knock against England, keep it up, Yuvraj”. I’m sure he will make a full recovery from his illness, and will be back in the blue shirt of India very soon. I look forward to that day, and can’t wait to play him again, as he is such a wonderful player”, Kevin signed off.