Sri Lanka have taken the unprecedented step of readmitting players associated with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League into domestic cricket.
Last year, Sri Lanka Cricket banned its five ICL players - Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardena and Saman Jayantha - from playing any official cricket matches.
The decision comes just days after the Bangladesh Cricket Board joined its counterparts from other countries in banning 13 players, including former captain Habibur Bashar, who has signed up with the ICL.
"Players will be allowed to play for their respective clubs and share their expertise, but cannot represent the country," Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Shane Fernando said.
The rebel league, bankrolled by India's largest listed media company Zee Telefilms, was launched last year in a direct conflict with the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The BCCI not only barred any ICL player or official from taking part in first-class cricket, but also convinced other boards to take similar action against their 'rebel' players.
Unsurprisingly, ICL officials welcomed Sri Lanka's decision and ICL business head Himanshu Mody told www.cricinfo.com: "This is a step in the right direction.
"We hope that this decision will pave the way for Sri Lankan cricketers to play both for the ICL and their country in the near future."
