BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The Cricket World Cup trophy, which was being kept on display in India ahead of the tournament's start this weekend, has been damaged.

A part of the US$80,000 silverware inadvertently became undone while being transported for use in a promotional campaign by one of the World Cup's major sponsors, LG Electronics.

"The lower gold ring of the trophy was detached from the wooden base when the trophy was received," a statement from LG said.

"The ICC policy does not allow anyone except the official trophy makers to repair or polish the trophy."

The trophy, which will be presented to the winners of the showpiece event in the Caribbean, has been sent to the ICC's base in Dubai before it is flown to London to be repaired.