Sri Lanka lift ICL domestic ban

Atapattu retired from international cricket to the play in the ICL

Sri Lanka have defied the world cricket establishment by lifting the domestic ban on players involved with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

The decision allows five players, notably former captain Marvan Atapattu, to play Sri Lankan club cricket.

Banned ICL players had previously only been able to participate in English county cricket, where a ban would have been considered restraint of trade.

Sri Lanka will continue to uphold the international ban on ICL players.

Shane Fernando, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) media manager, said: "Players will be allowed to play for their respective clubs and share their expertise, but cannot represent the country."

The SLC had previously banned Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardena and Saman Jayantha but they, and umpire Ranmore Martinesz, will now return to the domestic fold.

The decision comes two days after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) handed 10-year bans to 13 of its players associated with the ICL, a competition run in direct competition to the officially recognised Indian Premier League.

A number of countries banned ICL players taking part in official cricket following lobbying from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

ICL officials heralded Sri Lanka's decision as a "step in the right direction".

"We hope that this decision will pave the way for Sri Lankan cricketers to play both for the ICL and their country in the near future," ICL head of business Himanshu Mody told Cricinfo.