The International Cricket Council on Thursday, dedicated the Champions Trophy tournament in India to 'Spirit of Cricket' and has roped in several players, including Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, for promoting this theme.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed called upon all the players and officials to pledge themselves to use the 10-team limited overs extravaganza from October 7-November 5 "as a springboard in the quest to uphold" the spirit of the game.
Explaining that this clarion call was not because the spirit was flagging, Speed said that all the players and umpires had been conducting themselves well.
"This (the call) is just to emphasise that all the players are aware of the spirit of cricket when the sport, as well as many others, are under great scrutiny," he said.
"It will be great if we get through the Champions Trophy without any one being charged (with breach of the Code of Conduct)," Speed said.
Significantly, no player from England or Pakistan have been roped in so far to support the ICC in its latest endeavour.
But it was explained by ICC's Media and Communications Manager Brian Murgatroyd that it was not done because the two teams were still engaged in a one-day series and the ICC did not want to disturb the players at present.
"From the time the tournament gets underway on October 7 with a match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (in Mohali) until the final on November 5, the eyes of the cricketing world would be trained on India," Speed said.
"That level of scrutiny, something that cricket is well used to these days, can be viewed as a hardship, but it can also be seen as an opportunity for us all to show how great our sport really is," the ICC CEO said.
"Cricket is unique in the way it embraces a sense of decency through the Laws of the Game, including a specific section on 'The Spirit of Cricket' that stands for tradition, respect, fair play and excellence.
"And so today I call upon all players and officials to pledge themselves to uphold that spirit and, by doing so, show the world why cricket is such a magnificent sport," he added.
After reading out the names of the top players and officials who have all agreed to support the concept, Speed said that more players and officials would be added to the list in the coming days before the event's commencement.
The players and officials who have committed themselves to the ICC's endeavour are: Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag (India), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Brian Lara (WI), Brett Lee (Aus), Habibul Bashar (BAN), Shane Bond (NZ), Shaun Pollock (SA), Prosper Utseya (ZIM), Dav Whatmore (coach, BAN) and Kevin Curran (coach, ZIM).
West Indies great Lara has said in his message that if a player knows he is out, he should walk, to uphold the spirit of the game.
Following are messages from some players who have committed themselves to the concept:
Dravid: This is a fantastic idea as 'The Spirit of Cricket' is very imortant.
We must all be aware and conscious of the great traditions that we represent when we take the field and perform in front of the public.
It is vital that the right spirit is shown by players, officials and supporters so that the ICC Champons Trophy reflects the true spirit of our great game of cricket.
Sehwag: Cricket is a gentleman's game and it is our responsibility to ensure the youngsters watching us play get inspired by the right things on the field and off it, so it is important to play the game in the right spirit.
If everybody individually takes up the responsibilty to play the game in the right spirit, it reflects positively on the entire team.
The ICC Champions Trophy is a big stage. There will be billions of people watching and so ten teams playing cricket in the right spirit can only send out the right message.
Lara: I think the profile of the game is on the up and the Ashes and the India-Pakistan cricket series are examples of that.
You are playing for your team but you are also playing for your career, so there is lot at stake.
But at the same time it is important you play the game in the right spirit -- if you know you are out, you should walk.
