Sri Lanka Cricket has barred its players from participating in overseas domestic leagues including Australia's Big Bash until the World Cup next year.
The ban comes as national selectors try to work out a winning combination for the showpiece tournament to be played in the sub-continent in February-April 2011.
It means the explosive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan will not be able to turn out for New South Wales' Twenty20 side in next summer's Big Bash despite having signed a contract with them in March.
Sri Lanka are due to play three Tests at home against India next month followed by a triangular series with New Zealand as the third team.
The team is also due to tour Australia for a one-day series before West India travel to Sri Lanka in November in the build-up to the World Cup.
