Why Sri Lanka is taking on 'Big Brother'

To some it comes across as a minor "The Mouse That Roared" style rebellion. Or little brother, Sri Lanka Cricket, taking on bigger bother India, in this case the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Sure the BCCI have far more financial clout, but this doesn't mean either how they can bully or push others around to suit their agendas.

But there is far more to this modern day meme style action than those bystanders would, at first glance, assume. Unless, of course, they are aware of the daily frustrations that involve those employed by the Indian Cricket League and how the BCCI churlishly react.

What has happened in SLC circles is symptomatic of a system and, it is suggested, the tip of what is a large, melting iceberg. Melting in that other ICL players are likely to tackle their boards over the banning orders and scuttle the BCCI demands of how the International Cricket Council apply such nefarious interdicts without being questioned.

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga is merely acting out of fairness for a group of players who have been "unjustly punished" for plying their trade by playing, umpiring, coaching and in more than one case, doing match commentary.

The BCCI action is more than the vindictive act of a powerful warlord and a denial of human rights. Depending what legal spin can be placed on item A of the ICC's anti-racism code, the BCCI can be found to be in violation of this clause which says the "ICC and all of its members shall promote and encourage participation at all levels regardless of race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin."

In Sri Lanka, as in other countries, it is an actionable offence to deny anyone the right to make a living. The five players, led by Marvan Atapattu and Russel Arnold retired as international players after last year's fiasco of a World Cup in the Caribbean, and well before the ICL and IPL were launched.

All the players wanted to do was play in the Sri Lanka Premier League. If they do some coaching or commentary (as do Arnold and Daryll Cullinan), banning them from earning extra is a denial of a player's right to make an honest living.

In this, the BCCI have attempted to label the players as "criminals" and are acting against all their welfare.

There is no doubt that Sri Lanka's Minister of Sport, Gamini Lokuge, would have faced a form of justifiable court action, had he tried to re-impose the ban against the ICL group from playing in the local Premier League. He would have lost it as well as there are no acceptable grounds for this banning other than IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's ego and that of his sycophantic coterie.