IPL pledges to play hard and play fair

Date released: 17 April 2009

After a successful collaboration at the inaugural DLF Indian Premier League tournament, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) have today announced a renewal of their partnership to support the MCC Spirit of Cricket campaign.

Play hard, play fair

The highly anticipated second season, to be played this year across eight cities in South Africa, will see each of the eight Indian franchises - through their captains - sign an MCC Spirit of Cricket Declaration at the opening ceremony to demonstrate their commitment to upholding the spirit of the game.

The partnership between MCC and the DLF Indian Premier League is wide-ranging: the captain’s declaration to "play hard, play fair" will be bolstered by the broadcasting of MCC Spirit of Cricket adverts on TV around the world and at each venue.

Bradshaw: IPL can help "achieve our goal" Keith Bradshaw, MCC’s Secretary & Chief Executive, said: "With the growing popularity of the game worldwide, cricket has a responsibility to safeguard its core virtues. We are delighted with the continued support of the DLF Indian Premier League as it provides further evidence that MCC Spirit of Cricket has been embraced by cricketers at the very top of the game.

"What the sport needs now is to ensure that players at grassroots level embrace it in the same way.

"Our hope is that the MCC Spirit of Cricket message will become embedded in every player, both young and old, right around the world. In a tournament that has captured the imagination of cricket enthusiasts everywhere, our partnership with the DLF Indian Premier League will play a big part in helping us to achieve our goal."

Modi (right) with Keith Bradshaw at the IPL's inaugural season in 2008 Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, DLF Indian Premier League, said: "I am pleased that the DLF Indian Premier League will once again adopt MCC’s doctrine on the Spirit of Cricket.

"The media spotlight on cricket is greater now than ever before and every example of good and bad practice is illuminated and magnified for children to copy. To respect the umpires, opponents, captain and the game itself is essential to the way cricket is played.

"With the eyes of the world once again upon the DLF Indian Premier League, we have a great opportunity to spread the MCC Spirit of Cricket message to many thousands of children and encourage fair play at all levels of the game.

"We look forward to seeing cricket, and the Spirit of Cricket, at its best."