Viv Richards to lead WI greats in Twenty20 clash with World XI

Bridgetown, Barbados, Dec 20 (UNI) West Indies legend Vivian Richards will lead a team of former greats like Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Courtney Walsh in a Twenty20 match against a World XI side to celebrate the unveiling of the new Kensington Oval stadium for next year's World Cup.

Sir Viv's West Indies XI will also comprise legends Joel Garner and Curtly Ambrose with former captain Richie Richardson, Kenny Benjamin, Vasbert Drakes and Collis King completing the star-studded line-up for the match which will be played after the completion of the stadium's renovation work in the first week of February.

The Kningston Oval is scheduled to host Super Eight matches along with the final of the mega-event to be held in March 2007.

The organisers, however, are not revealing the line-up for the World XI.

''The opposing team will consist of outstanding persons who would have played at the same time ... and will form a World XI,'' Barbados Cricket Association president Tony Marshall was quoted by CMC Sport as saying.

''I believe that Barbados, and I believe the entire Caribbean ...

are all looking forward to seeing this facility. It prides itself, before now, as being the Mecca of cricket in the Caribbean and we believe it rightly will deserve that title in the future,'' he added.

The stadium has been renovated at a cost of 67 million dollars and the organisers are promising world class facilities at the venue.

''Many of the stalwarts and icons who have travelled the world at large have made comment that what they have seen to date is as good as, and in some instances, definitely better than what can be found elsewhere across the world,'' Mr Marshall said.

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