Kingfisher Airlines announces ‘Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award’ for DLF Indian Premier League

New Delhi: The Official Umpire Partner of the DLF Indian Premier League, Kingfisher Airlines , has announced a new initiative to reward fair play during the matches that began on 18th April.

The Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award will see umpires award teams with points for fair play, respect for the laws of the game, and respect for their opponents.

The 'Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award' will involve a league table running over the course of the season. The winner of the award will be the team that, in the eyes of the umpires, has played fairest across the 56 matches comprising the regular league season.

Each member of the winning team will be presented with a trophy by Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and CEO of Kingfisher Airlines.

Speaking about his endeavour to ensure sportsmanship in the game, Mallya said, "At Kingfisher Airlines, we are proud to be leading this revolutionary new concept which will reward the team that plays fairest. We are all very excited about the upcoming matches, but with the eyes of the world upon us, we want to ensure that the players uphold the laws of the game and respect the Spirit of Cricket. The Fly Kingfisher Umpires will be the final authority on this award, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with them."

Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner, DLF Indian Premier League, said, "We are absolutely delighted that our Umpire Partner, Kingfisher Airlines has created such a unique initiative. As we prepare for 44 days of intense cricket, we must not lose sight of the fact that however hard cricket is played, it must be played fairly and in the spirit that characterizes our great game. We have already announced our partnership with MCC and that we will uphold the Spirit of Cricket. We are all extremely grateful to Kingfisher Airlines for their wonderful support."

Kingfisher Airlines also unveiled a line of contemporary and stylish umpire uniforms for the ensuing season, designed by Indian designer Manoviraj Khosla, while keeping in mind the sensibilities of the umpire's role in the a match. The line includes uniforms comprising a smart shirt in the traditional Kingfisher Airlines red and stylish pants designed in striking black and topped off with an elegant yet functional hat. The line also includes training shorts set in black and complemented with a red t-shirt and a cap.

Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award Framework

After each match, the two officiating umpires and the third umpire will reward award points to the competing teams based on the following criteria:

• Up to 4 points - awarded per team that in the opinion of the umpires according to how the team upheld the spirit of the game during the match
• 2 / 1 / 0 points - awarded to one or both teams - if in the opinion of the umpires the teams showed respect to the opposition
• 2 / 1 / 0 points – awarded to one or both teams - if in the opinion of the umpires the teams showed respect to the laws of the game
• 2 / 1 / 0 points – awarded to one or both teams - if in the opinion of the umpires the teams showed respect to the umpires

A team can receive a maximum of ten points per match.

Key to Award Points
2 points – Exemplary
1 point – Good
0 points – Average

The inaugural season of the DLF IPL will showcase 59 matches, providing broadcasters and in-stadia spectators 177 hours of live entertainment that will also be viewed by a significant chunk of international audience.

Matches will be held during late afternoon and evening, to coincide with prime time television, and providing a convenient time for the stadium audience.