Sport - Cricket

BCCI should lift ban: Atapattu

Colombo: 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 BCCI, to follow suit and do the same in their respective countries.

“It’s a very strong message to other boards that 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 ICL; they are very young and talented. Why not give them a chance now?” he told Cricinfo.

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. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu