Colombo, Apr 20: Sri Lanka today rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the ongoing IPL till May 15, a move which could have a bearing in the relationship between the two Cricket Boards.
All the 11 Sri Lankan players were earlier asked to return home by May 5 to prepare for the tour of England and the Sri Lankan Board, despite requests from the BCCI to extend the date, has decided to stick to its decision.
Though no meeting took place between the BCCI and SLC but Indian officials did speak to their Lankan counterparts on the matter and requested them to let their players play in the Twenty20 event at-least till May 15.
But Sports Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage and the Cricket Board (SLC) have decided to ignore the Indian request.
A Sri Lankan Cricket source said that Aluthgamage, Sri Lanka Cricket officials and the national selection committee had lengthy deliberations on the matter yesterday.
Accordingly some 11 Sri Lankans including the star players Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and the newly appointed Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan would have to abide by the Sri Lankan decision.
Aluthgamage has said that interests of Sri Lankan cricket was his priority and they would be sending a polite explanation on the decision to the Indians.
Sri Lanka durected all IPL players to return in order to prepare for the tour of England which starts on May 10.
Former captain Sangakkara, now leading Deccan Chargers, said the players will have to abide by the decision but expressed hope that two boards would sort out the issue. PTI
