In a move that is bound to irk the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sri Lanka [Images] Cricket (SLC) has decided to allow players aligned with the rebel Indian Cricket League to compete in the country's domestic tournaments.

Even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board banned players for joining the ICL, the SLC interim committee decided to soften its stand on the 'rebels' at a meeting in Colombo a couple of days ago.

SLC chief Arjuna Ranatunga moved the resolution to lift the ban on players like Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana.

"Arjuna felt that it was unfair to keep these players out for long," SLC secretary K Mathivanan said.

"These bans have to stop somewhere," he added.

Apart from Sri Lanka, only England [Images] and New Zealand [Images] have allowed ICL players to compete in their domestic tournaments.