(Cricinfo) Ramnaresh Sarwan has joined forces with Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag to promote awareness and understanding of HIV at the World Twenty20 Championships.

He was unveiled as a new Think Wise Champion to promote the issues in a joint ICC and UNAIDS initiative. Sarwan is one of the leading batsmen in the West Indies team, having played 83 Tests and 154 ODIs so far. In that time, he has scored 15 Test centuries and four ODI hundreds and wants to use his position to help educate people in the Caribbean region.

“The issue of HIV is an important one for young people in the Caribbean and hopefully I can use my profile as an international cricketer to have a positive impact on people’s behaviour within the region,” said Sarwan.

“It is important young people are aware of resources that exist for them, such as the Live UP website, www.iliveup.com where they can find out about HIV, learn the importance of protection, and understand how to talk about these issues to their partner and friends.

“By using this event to raise awareness of HIV and remind cricket supporters not to discriminate against people with the disease, hopefully we can play our role in educating young people.”
There will be a series of HIV awareness activities during the World Twenty20 and players will wear red ribbons in the semi-finals and final as a show of support for people living with HIV.