Starting with the Cable & Wireless home series, the West Indies and South Africa will now be competing for the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy.

The disclosure was made by the West Indies Cricket Board's Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Shillingford, during a news conference to launch the 2001 Cable & Wireless Test and One Day International Series.

"The West Indies and South Africa Cricket Boards agree that this trophy will be a tribute to the exceptional contribution which Sir Vivian has made towards world cricket and will also be an inspiration to players on both sides," Shillingford noted.

"For us in the West Indies, this initiative is even more special since Sir Vivian is one of our heroes who have contributed in a very dramatic and positive way, not just to our cricket, but to the psyche of Caribbean people," Shillingford remarked.

He said that if it was "possible that there is somewhere in the world where this living legend means as much as he has does to us in the West Indies, then it is South Africa".

Shillingford noted that Sir Vivian "came to be revered as a symbol of hope, strength and dignity for every black South African during the apartheid era".

"His refusal to play in South Africa during this period contributed, together with the protests and actions of others, to the eventual dismantling of apartheid and has, in a small way, allowed us to establish a friendship between the people of South Africa and the Caribbean through a spirit of cricket," Shillingford remarked.

Thanking Sir Vivian for agreeing to have the trophy named in his honour, Shillingford told the former West Indies captain he hoped the West Indian and South African players would be "inspired by the determination, integrity and commitment to excellence that you have demonstrated on and off the field over the years."

Shillingford also thanked the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), for supporting the WICB in this salute to Sir Vivian.

Sir Vivian said it is a great honour to have the trophy bestowed in his name and noted that he was very thankful to the WICB and the UCBSA for this "fine gesture".

"When you do set yourself out as a kid, you never really believe that at the end of the day this kind of thing can happen. I am very privileged to be part of this and very thankful that you chose Viv, especially for the hard work and dedication one does put in over the years," Sir Vivian said.

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