COLOMBO, A multi-million-dollar rebel league in India seems set to take Sri Lankan cricket by storm with several top players approached to join the lucrative series, sources said on Sunday.

The Indian Cricket League (ICL), promoted by the country's largest listed media group Zee Telefilms, features six teams playing Twenty20 matches across India.

Each team in the league, which has not been recognised by the International Cricket Council or the Board of Control for Cricket in India, will have four international players, two Indian stars and eight up-and-coming players.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources said several players were privately approached by agents during the recent series here with Bangladesh but that the SLC would not allow any contracted players to join the rebel league.

"If they go ahead and join the league the result would be similar to the 1982 rebel tour to South Africa," an SLC source said.

Fourteen Sri Lankan cricketers led by Bandula Warnapura were banned for 25 years in 1982 for taking part in the South African series.

But press reports here said that the recently retired Russel Arnold has accepted the offer and is negotiating with the ICL.

Arnold, currently overseas, was not available for comment. At least two other Sri Lankan star players have been offered contracts ranging from $500,000 to $600,000 for each of the three years in the playing contract, a huge jump from their Sri Lankan contracts.

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has already declared that he would play in the league, the dates and venue of which are yet to be announced. IT-CRICKET