Malinga had officially asked the board for permission to play for Mumbai Indians on July 15, with that decision having been approved by SLC's executive committee on July 22. The decision to play for his IPL team means Malinga will not forego the 20% salary payment made by IPL teams to the players who take part in the CLT20.
"As per the Team Participation Agreement of CLT20 2014, the decision on which team a player should represent is the sole prerogative of the player himself," an SLC release said. "Accordingly, whilst expressing Sri Lanka Cricket's preference for Lasith to represent the Southern Express Team, the Executive Committee left this decision at his sole discretion."
Despite the request to turn out for his IPL franchise, Malinga had asked SLC officials to distribute as much as 50% of the board's income from the CLT20 among the un-contracted cricketers in the Southern Express side. This initial figure was rejected, however. The board eventually settled on paying the players "around 15%" of its after-tax income from the tournament, according to CEO Ashley de Silva. SLC receives a $500,000 payment from CLT20 for sending a team to the tournament.
Champions League T20 2014 : Malinga to play for Mumbai Indians at CLT20 | Cricket News | Champions League Twenty20 | ESPN Cricinfo