LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Brian Murgatroyd, media and communications manager of the ICC, keeps an eye on the prize yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photgrapher

THE CRICKET World Cup (CWC) trophy was shimmering in all its glory yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay and not damaged in Indiaas was reported.

The trophy, made of silver and gold, rested on a table in the St. Andrew Room of the hotel as the captains from the competing countries answered questions from the media.

Brian Murgatroyd, media and communications manager for the International Cricket Council (ICC), said the trophy, which was damaged, was not the one which will be presented to this year's champions on April 28 in Barbados.

"The one that was damaged goes on the tours and so forth. The one right here is the one that the winner will get," said Murgatroyd as he pointed to the trophy.

The defective trophy was being used by one of the CWC sponsors, LG Electronics, in a promotion in Kolkata, India, when a piece of the silverware was detached from its base.

The original trophy, valued about US$80,000, is kept by the ICC. A replica, which differs only in the inscriptions, is permanently awarded to the winning team.

The current trophy was created for the 1999 championships and was the first permanent prize in the tournament's history. Before that, different trophies were made for each World Cup. Murgatroyd said in case of damage "the World Cup trophy is insured and if it is damage it can be repaired".

Murgatroyd also said there was a strict security detail for the trophy while in the Caribbean.

"There's a list of security protocol about the length of your arm about protecting and transporting the trophy," he said.