Message from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the cricket teams of India and Pakistan

By the time this Test match finishes, nearly 4,000 people will have been infected with HIV in South Asia. For every over you bowl today, 10 people will have been infected with the virus.

"As cricketers, you can win the hearts of your people.

"As role models, you can encourage young people to protect themselves, and urge your leaders to pay more attention to the epidemic.

"And by wearing the red ribbon, you show that you care deeply about AIDS and about people living with HIV/AIDS, and so help to remove stigma and discrimination, a major obstacle in the fight against the epidemic.

"I congratulate you and the cricket boards of India and Pakistan, together with the International Cricket Council, on their decision to highlight the AIDS crisis during this historic tour. AIDS is a common enemy that both India and Pakistan have to fight together."

For further information:

ICC Contacts:

UNAIDS Contact:

Dominique De Santis

UNAIDS, Geneva

Ph + 41 22 791 4509

www.unaids.org