Friday, September 8 2006 11:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The International Cricket Council Thursday (7 Sep, 2006) dedicates the forthcoming 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 calls 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 is not because the spirit was flagging, Speed says 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 says.

"It will be great if we get through the Champions Trophy without any one being charged (with breach of the Code of Conduct)," Speed says.

Significantly, no player from England or Pakistan has been roped in so far to support the ICC in its latest endeavour.

But ICC's Media and Communications Manager Brian Murgatroyd tells 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 explain it.