New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- UNICEF India on Sunday announced the appointment of international cricketer Smriti Mandhana to join the ranks of the UN Child Rights Agency's Celebrity Advocate.

In the new role, Mandhana is set to build on her earlier work to champion equal rights and opportunities for children and young people.

The appointment, announced on the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, spotlights girls' rights, protection, potential and leadership, and the barriers that still limit their choices worldwide, according to a release.

A sporting icon and role model for young women and girls across India, Mandhana will champion equal opportunities for girls to play and thrive. She will support UNICEF India's work to advance a...