MCC World Cricket committee member Kumar Sangakkara represented MCC at the launch of the Sri Lanka Premier League which partners the Club's Spirt of Cricket campaign.
Sangakkara, who is the Icon player for the Kandurata (Central) Province, one of seven provincial teams in the competition, spoke on behalf of MCC at the launch event on Monday 16 July.
The inaugural SLPL T20 gets underway on August 10 with the final taking place on August 31. The partnership with MCC will see the players, who include the likes of international stars Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi, as well as the cream of domestic Sri Lankan talent, encouraged to 'Play Hard, Play Fair.'
MCC Head of Cricket John Stephenson earlier spoke of his excitement at the deal.
He said: "MCC is delighted to work with the new Sri Lanka Premier League to promote the MCC Spirit of Cricket message to a global audience – it represents a fantastic and very exciting opportunity for the Club.
"The Spirit of Cricket is a worldwide concept that affects players at all levels of the game – from the school playground to the international arena. It is very pleasing therefore that some of the finest players in the world will play their part in supporting the core MCC Spirit of Cricket values of playing hard, but fair, throughout the SLPL tournament.
"In particular it will be great to watch MCC World Cricket committee member, Kumar Sangakkara, in action for Kandurata, and I am sure he will encourage his team-mates to play their part in upholding the very best traditions of the game."
Although no players from England or India will be competing in the competition, 56 overseas cricketers from across the globe will join the 107 homegrown players drafted for the competition.
The new partnership between the SLPL and MCC Spirit of Cricket initiative follows a similar agreement established by MCC and the DLF Indian Premier League since the tournament’s formation in 2008.
Sangakkara was unveiled as a member of MCC's World Cricket committee in South Africa this January.
