Taking cognizance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's objection on its policy on Indian Cricket League players, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) clarified that its cricketers associated with the rebel league can participate in domestic cricket only this year.
"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to emphasize that the Interim Committee approval granted for ICL-contracted Sri Lankan players was for the upcoming Premier League Cricket Tournament 2008 only," a SLC statement said.
"All ICL contracted cricketers will not be permitted to represent teams at district, provincial and international level," it added.
The SLC interim committee lasted week lifted the ban on its ICL players and decided to allow them to take part in domestic cricket. However, the decision wasn't well-digested by the BCCI, who threatened to take up the issue in the ICC meeting.
The development also irked Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge, who met SLC officials in Colombo on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
While upholding the SLC's decision to allow the ICL-contracted Lankan cricketers to play club cricket, he said the chances of donning national colours was out of the question.
Lokuge, who met SLC officials at the sports ministry agreed to lift the ban was imposed by the previous cricket administration on five players and an umpire associated with the rebel league for the 2008 domestic cricket season.
This would mean that former skipper Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Saman Jayantha, Upul Tharanga and Avishka Gunawardene, who were part of the ICL competition, will be available for selection for their respective clubs, while umpire Ranmore Martinez could also return to officiate in domestic games.
"They requested us and the eight-member Interim committee agreed," an SLC official said.
Meanwhile, sports minister Lokuge said the rebel players can never play for the country.
"It's very clear. These players had asked to play domestic cricket and the Board has allowed them. The request is only for club cricket and that's fine. But they can't represent the country at any stage," Lokuge told a newspaper.
He also reiterated the need to maintain friendly ties with India.
"As cricket-playing nations and as neighbours, we have to have good relations with India," he stated.
