Seven players released by Sri Lanka Cricket to play in BPL.

It was learnt last week that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was refusing to provide No Objection Certificate (NOC) to most of its centrally contracted players to take part in the third season of the Bangladesh Premier League. But now the latest development of the drama is that the SLC has agreed to release seven high-profile cricketers to play in the money-spinning T20 tournament, which is clearly an about-turn from their stance last week.

It is understood that the esire to maintain a good relationship with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the one-week postponement of Sri Lanka’s domestic one-day tournament have led to the change of heart. SLC’s desire to see foreign cricketers – including those from Bangladesh – participate in its own city-based T20 league, may have also influenced the decision.

Jeevan Mendis
Ajantha Mendis
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Chamara Kapugedara
Thisara Perera
Sachithra Senanayake
Seekkuge Prasanna

These are the seven players to be given No Objection Certificates by the SLC to play in the BPL.

It is to be noted that in addition to the seven centrally-contracted players of SLC, two other Sri Lankans had already been confirmed to participate in the cash-rich tournament. One of them is Dhaka Dynamites captain Kumar Sangakkara, who had been awarded a central contract but is now retired from international cricket. Dilshan Munaweera is the other man, who does not have a central contract.