The Sri Lankan government is in the process of moving a motion to ban all national athletes who refuse to represent the country. Sports Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage told Khaleej Times that amendments have already been made to existing regulations and have been submitted for approval to temporarily ban any sportspersons who choose not to represent the country at any given time. The temporary ban means that sportsmen counting top rugby and cricket players in the country, including IPL star Lasith Malinga, will not be allowed to play for the country up to two years. However the decision to ban the players, according the sports minister lies with the individual sporting bodies. The Sports Minister called the decision of top sportspersons not to represent the country “highly unfair. Cricketers and rugby players have been choosing not to play for our country in the recent past, and it is highly unfair that they use our facilities and the national teams to create a reputation for themselves and then not represent the country,” said the minister. Asked if Malinga would face the ban, the sports minister said that no sportsmen would be exempt from it. “Malinga has his own payment problems with the (Sri Lanka) Cricket Board but all sportsmen who refuse to sign contracts with their respective sporting federations will fall into this category,” said Aluthgamage. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the country’s official cricket body could not be contacted for response. Malinga’s refusal to sign the central contract with Sri Lanka Cricket and setting an example to other sportsmen is a “trend that we must nip in the bud,” said the minister. According to the minister, the new ban has been the effect of several sports bodies complaining about players’ reluctance to represent the country, but their continuance to play in club matches and international tournament instead. The cricketer who attained stardom in India’s IPL T20 tournament quit Test matches last year, and decided to continue to play in the more lucrative IPL tournament. Having been recently chosen as the tournament ambassador for the upcoming ICC T20, he also refused to renew his contract with the Sri Lanka Cricket board last year due to low payments. Despite being promoted to the $1 million top category in contracts, he was offered only 40 per cent of the payment due to his retirement from Test cricket. From khaleejtimes