Calcutta: Cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers will be honoured during the upcoming Test Series between West Indies and Sri Lanka. The two-match series will be played for the Sobers-Tissera trophy as tribute to the former West Indies all-rounder and captain, and former Sri Lanka captain Michael Tissera.

The announcement was made by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at the official pre-series launch on Tuesday. Speaking at the launch, West Indies captain Jason Holder said that naming the trophy after Sobers was a "special touch."

"Having the trophy named after Sir Garfield Sobers is something truly special. He was one of the greatest to play the game and he still makes a major contribution to the game.

"Only recently he joined us in Barbados and wished everyone the very best for this tour of Sri Lanka. It is always good to see him and interact with him, and it would be great for us to take home the trophy with his name on it," a WICB release quoted Holder as saying.

"We all look up to Sir Garry and the legends of West Indies cricket who paved the way for us to be here. We will look to play in the true spirit of the game and try and emulate our heroes."On the other hand, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews gave his backing to Tharindu Kaushal despite a ban on his doosra, raising the prospect of the spinner being selected for the upcoming series.