New Delhi, Aug 29 (IANS) Special Olympics Asia Pacific will hold its first international cricket tournament in Mumbai in November and the matches will be telecast on ESPN STAR as part of special shows.

This was announced at a press conference here Tuesday attended by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, some children of the Special Olympics team and officials of ESPN STAR among others.

Twelve teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies will take part in the Nov 6-13 first International Cricket Cup Tournament. The matches will not be aired live by ESPN STAR.

ESPN STAR and Special Olympics Asia Pacific announced their tie up at the media conference.

"Our commitment will not stop at producing and broadcasting the flagship events of Special Olympics, which will start with a cricket tournament in Mumbai, but will also run public service announcements to increase the awareness of people towards intellectual disabilities," said Jamie Davis, managing director ESPN STAR Sports.

The broadcasting company in association with the sports body has roped in Team India captain Rahul Dravid, Irfan Pathan and Mohammed Kaif to feature in the public service announcements.

Sunil Gavaskar, addressing the function, said: "I support the movement wholeheartedly. My association with this organisation started 10 years back when I went to Bangalore for their fund raising programme."

Gavaskar also recalled the efforts of former cricketer Vijay Merchant, who had worked among underprivileged people, and said that cricketers should come out and help such people.

"In the past Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble have contributed to spread public awareness about different issues. But nowadays the schedule is such that cricketers don't get much time to do these things," said Gavaskar.

For the Special Olympics children present on the occasion, it was a moment to cherish as they were face-to-face with the legendary cricketer. Joginder Bendi and Ragini, both with intellectual disabilities, were obviously delighted.

"It is one of the best moment of my life," said Ragini, who has been a part of Special Olympics Bharat, the India wing of Special Olympics Asia Pacific, for six months and now dreams of becoming a good badminton player.

Joginder, who works as an office assistant with Special Olympics Bharat, has represented Delhi in cricket in state tournaments.

The Special Olympics body also announced a Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai in October 2007.

Special Olympics Asia Pacific is an international body dealing with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and trains them to participate in different sports. Special Olympics Bharat has been recognised by the government of India. The India wing currently has 230,000 athletes and 21,000 coaches spread across 24 states in the country.