Spirit of cricket

Attractive for all! The stunning new game will bring to the grounds people of all ages. There is something in for it for everyone.

The ICC's vision for cricket is that it should captivate and inspire people of every age, gender, background and ability while building bridges between continents, countries and communities.

Central to this ambition is promoting the Spirit of Cricket, an ethos on how the game should be played and viewed both on and off the field.

The Spirit of Cricket, enshrined through the Laws of the Game, was defined as part of the ICC's Strategic Plan 2006-10. This definition includes:

Cricket enjoys a unique mix of attributes in international sport. It is underpinned by rich traditions and high values; it is played under a guiding principle of respect; it evokes passion, commitment and excitement; it is truly multi-cultural, it stands proudly on the world's sporting stage, it is a sociable game that forges deep long-lasting friendships; it is a team sport that combines skill, strategy, endeavour and athleticism; above all it is a game that means many different things to many different people and provides endless joy to those that it touches.

As part of cricket's social responsibility, the ICC is committed to using major events, such as the ICC World Twenty20, as a platform to raise the awareness of issues such as HIV and AIDS as well as the wider aims of the Spirit of Cricket.

A number of leading players including Brett Lee (Australia), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), Darren Maddy (England), Virender Sehwag (India), Maurice Ouma (Kenya), Shane Bond (New Zealand), Salman Butt (Pakistan), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Jehan Mubarak (Sri Lanka) and Prosper Utseya (Zimbabwe) are all supporting the initiative.

Shaun Pollock - "I think it's possible to play even the most competitive game in the right spirit. You should put everything you can into winning, but it's also important to play in the right way."

Shane Bond - "I believe in playing hard and playing fair. Cricket has a proud history and it is important to set an example to all who play the game - particularly children who play."

Tamim Iqbal - "Ever since I started playing cricket I have been made aware of the nobleness of this game and how important it is to play it in the right spirit. The Spirit of Cricket is not about the game only, it is about the beauty of life and players must remember that and believe in that."