Sir Vivian, Andy Roberts, Ambrose to be honoured

St. John's, Antigua, Mar 10 (UNI) Original Master Blaster Vivian Richards will head a list of cricket greats from Antigua and Barbuda who will be honoured for their contribution to the West Indian cricket with their images lining the route to the World Cup stadium named after him.

Antigua and Barbuda will host six Super 8 matches between March 27 and April 8 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Former fast bowlers Andy Roberts, Curtly Ambrose and Winston Benjamin, former captain Richie Richardson and reliable wicketkeeper-batsman Ridley Jacobs, who have represented the West Indies in past World Cups, are the other cricketers chosen for the honour, local media reported.

Sir Vivian and Roberts played in the triumphant Windies World Cup teams of 1975 and 1979 and were also part of the team which lost to India in the 1983 World Cup final.

Sir Vivian later featured in 1987 World Cup.

Richardson (1987, 1992, 1996) and Ambrose (1992, 1996, 1999) were veternas of three World Cups while Benjamin (1987, 1992) and Jacobs (1999, 2003) played in two editions of the showpiece event.

''Images of the six, in full cricketing attire will soon be superimposed on banners,'' said Rachel Collis, Team 2K7 Coordinator, the government-appointed body to plan events to commemorate Antigua's hosting of the showpiece event.

''We felt it was necessary to show our appreciation as a people for the men who led the West Indies through our power and glory days,'' she added.

Endorsing the venture, tourism minister Harold Lovell said the World Cup was as an opportune time to pay tribute to cricketers who are recognized throughout the globe as icons of West Indies cricket.

''They have in their own way made a mark for the West Indies in the history books and have also helped to place Antigua and Barbuda on the map,'' Lovell said.

UNI