COLOMBO, Sept 20: Former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said SLC’s decision to lift the domestic ban on him and four other cricketers who had aligned with ICL should send a “strong message” to other boards, including the BCCI, to follow suit and do the same in their respective countries.

“It’s a very strong message to other boards which have imposed similar bans. It’s a message that the game is not ruled by any single body, and nobody should try to rule the game,” Atapattu said.

“I hope that other boards, including India, also let all their ICL players play in all forms of cricket. The players in India have taken a brave stand by joining the ICL; they are very young and talented. Why not give them a chance now?” he told newsmen.

Besides Atapattu, others who benefited from Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to lift one-year-old ban imposed on ICL players include Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardene and Saman Jayantha.

Terming the SLC decision as “a positive step”, Atapattu said it can also open doors for his possible comeback to international cricket.

“But for that, the first move has to come from the cricket board. The previous administration wasn’t quite sure about me and the end wasn’t too good. This time, if they approach me, I will definitely think about it. I just don’t want to jump the gun,” Atapattu said.

The 37-year-old veteran said the lifting of the ban will help the Lankan cricketers to play for the country and also pick between the ICL and the Indian Premier league.

“I don’t think there should have been a ban in the first place but we are very happy that the Sri Lankan Board has taken such a positive step,” Atapattu said.

“We are hopeful this will soon lead to a situation where our cricketers can play for the country and choose between the ICL and the IPL.”

“The ICL is a similar tournament, with a similar format, and only the name is different. So why is there this discrimination?” he argued.

Meanwhile, the BCCI on Friday put the onus on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to respond to the Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to allow its players aligned with the rebel ICL to compete in the island nation’s domestic tournaments.

“We are concerned but this will be decided at the ICC level,” BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said from Chennai, while reacting to the latest development that irked the BCCI as it has banned players with ICL links from all competitions under its aegis. Other BCCI sources said the SLC was a divided house with its chief Arjuna Ranatunga not seeing eye to eye with other members of its interim committee on the ICL issue.

“Obviously, we are disappointed at the development, but it’s an internal matter of the Sri Lankan board and we can’t do anything about it. Matters have to be dealt with by the ICC.

“But there’s infighting within the Lanka board with Ranatunga favouring the ICL players while the others are not in favour of this,” the sources said.

To support their views is the statement issued on the matter by SLC’s secretary K Mathivanan who has said “Arjuna felt that it was unfair to keep these players out for long. Those bans have to stop somewhere”.

The decision by the SLC via a resolution moved by 1996 World Cup winning captain Ranatunga will enable players like former Test and ODI captain Marvan Atapattu, all-rounder Russel Arnold and leg spinner Upul Chandana to play in the island country’s domestic cricket again.—Agencies