Port Elizabeth: Not pleased with Bangalore Royal Challengers captain Kevin Pietersen's dissent on an umpiring decision, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi has asked players to behave like role models and uphold the spirit of cricket.

"Every incident in IPL is being closely monitored ... We have a zero-tolerance policy on player indiscipline and will take all necessary steps to ensure that the game is played in the true spirit of cricket," Modi said after Pietersen was let off with a warning for showing dissent on Australian umpire Simon Taufel's LBW decision against him in an IPL match against Chennai Super Kings.

"Cricketers need to realise that they are huge role models for an entire generation of youth and it is crucial for youngsters all over the world to learn the values of this great game and the spirit in which it should be played.

"The eyes of the world are on the DLF Indian Premier League and we want to see cricket, and the spirit of cricket, at its best," he said.

The displeasure notwithstanding, Modi said he would be hoping that both Pietersen and Chennai's Andrew Flintoff return for the knock-out stages of IPL if their franchises advance that far.

"We would like to hope they can make it back and we will try to work it out. But at the end of the day it's a decision between them and the ECB," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'.

However, the duo's national commitment make that next to impossible as the IPL semi-finals are on May 22 and 23, with the final a day later and England play one-day internationals against West Indies on May 21 and 24.

Modi also tried to stress the improved nature of relations between English and Indian cricket authorities and even suggested that the ECB could assume a financial stake in the Twenty20 Champions League, which was until now a cash cow only for India, Australia and South Africa.

"The matter is open. Anything can change and it's not a closed subject at all. The idea is we want to build the league up. The ECB and the BCCI had a rocky start because everyone is wary at the beginning or protecting their own territory, but we have a good relationship with them now and we hope to build on it going forward."