The wrong fight

Duleep Mendis, the chief executive of SLC, told Cricinfo the board's interim committee took this decision at a meeting following a request from the cricketers. "The interim committee has allowed these ICL players to play in domestic cricket after they sought permission to do so. This decision refers to a specific application from a specific group of players to take part in domestic cricket," Mendis said. He refused to comment on whether similar waivers would be granted in future to cricketers who take part in subsequent editions of ICL -- the league's second season starts on October 10.

"Players will be allowed to play for their respective clubs and share their expertise, but cannot represent the country," Shane Fernando, the Sri Lanka Cricket media manager, told AFP.

Interesting choice of words by Duleep Mendis... Not a blanket amnesty for ICL affiliated players but just enough to pique the BCCI..

But, if as has been widely reported in the media subsequent to this development, that this is the first step in the SLC standing up to the BCCI, I believe the SLC has picked the wrong fight..

Not because they are taking on the BCCI, but because the cause itself is self defeating.

The SLC, like the BCCI, is a monopoly. And like all monopolies, it will walk the extra mile to preserve status quo.

Granting an one off pardon to a set of players is one thing, making it de jure, quite another. Because, just as easily as the ICL was formed, an alternate cricket structure can take shape in Sri Lanka.

One that will act as a magnet for disgruntled players.

And once that happens, the next time someone says 'Selectors are muppets headed by a joker', the SLC will be able to do exactly nothing.