Sri Lanka's cricket authorities look to have adopted a welcoming approach to the Indian Cricket League (ICL).
With fellow sub-continent countries India and Pakistan opting for a more hostile reception to the breakaway rebel league, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) claims it believes there is nothing wrong with players joining for financial reward.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already issued a stern warning to all its players joining the league, warning they will never play for the national team again - with New Zealand also taking a similar stance.
On Friday, Pakistan's board admitted asking prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision to join the ICL.
But SLC's chairman of selectors Ashantha De Mel has now come out in support of the league, which will be mainly based on the Twenty20 format of the game.
"I don't see anything wrong in playing a series of games," he said. "The board should look at it favourably.
"If players want to earn some extra money then so be it.
"I can't understand the decision to ban players from all activities. It may be affecting India's television rights and so on, but then that's their problem."
However, De Mel acknowledges the board will have to look at their players' schedules before deciding if they can play.
"We have to look at the issue of contracted players favourably and the cricket board must decide whether or not to send them depending on their workload.
"It's just a matter of a few Twenty20 games and if the board feels it's not too much of a strain then there's no harm in the contracted players playing the tournament," he added
With fellow sub-continent countries India and Pakistan opting for a more hostile reception to the breakaway rebel league, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) claims it believes there is nothing wrong with players joining for financial reward.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already issued a stern warning to all its players joining the league, warning they will never play for the national team again - with New Zealand also taking a similar stance.
On Friday, Pakistan's board admitted asking prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision to join the ICL.
But SLC's chairman of selectors Ashantha De Mel has now come out in support of the league, which will be mainly based on the Twenty20 format of the game.
"I don't see anything wrong in playing a series of games," he said. "The board should look at it favourably.
"If players want to earn some extra money then so be it.
"I can't understand the decision to ban players from all activities. It may be affecting India's television rights and so on, but then that's their problem."
However, De Mel acknowledges the board will have to look at their players' schedules before deciding if they can play.
"We have to look at the issue of contracted players favourably and the cricket board must decide whether or not to send them depending on their workload.
"It's just a matter of a few Twenty20 games and if the board feels it's not too much of a strain then there's no harm in the contracted players playing the tournament," he added
