Keith Bradshaw, Lalit Modi and John Stephenson announce the signing of the MCC Spirit of Cricket declaration © Indian Premier League Enlarge

It is a partnership between the very old - one of cricket's most traditional establishments, the MCC - and the sport's newest tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL). Lalit Modi, the chairman of the IPL, has said his league will adhere to the MCC's Spirit of Cricket, in order to maintain decorum amid all the excitement.

"This partnership between the DLF Indian Premier League and MCC is both exciting and important," Modi said. "It is exciting to be associated with the most famous cricket club in the world, which is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket and the upholder of the spirit of the game.

"More importantly, all the cricketers playing in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League are role models for an entire generation of youth and it is crucial for youngsters all over the world to learn straight away the values of this great game and the spirit in which it should be played. The eyes of the world will be on the IPL and we want to see cricket, and the Spirit of Cricket, at its best."

The Spirit of Cricket first appeared as a preamble to the MCC's Code of Laws in 2000 and is designed to emphasise sportsmanship and good grace in the game.

"We are delighted that, right from the outset, the IPL is embracing the MCC Spirit of Cricket initiative," Keith Bradshaw, the MCC secretary and chief executive, said. "This is an innovative and forward-thinking league that has captured the imagination of the cricketing world and it is pleasing that each player and each team will play their part in supporting the very best traditions of the game.

"The Spirit of Cricket is a worldwide concept that affects all players of the game, from the grassroots to the elite level, and we believe it's fitting for MCC - a worldwide cricket club with an independent voice in the game - to promote the Spirit of Cricket in partnership with the IPL. We look forward to a league full of great cricket and superb cricketers playing in the right way - hard but fair."

The inaugural season of the IPL gets underway on April 18 with the Bangalore Royal Challengers taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore.