The way has been paved for Indian Cricket League rebels Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey to return to the New Zealand cricket fold.

The New Zealand Cricket Board announced on Thursday that all former ICL players would be considered for national selection again, without a stand-down period, provided they could prove they had severed all ties with the unofficial league.

The decision means former ICL players will be considered for inclusion in the New Zealand squad to tour Sri Lanka in August and September as well as for the New Zealand A side to tour India in August.

"New Zealand suffered heavily from the ICL" 

"There's no question that New Zealand suffered heavily from the ICL - our national side lost a significant number of top players," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

"New Zealand wants to have a top-ranked national team and this is very hard when you are unable to select from all your best players. Many of the ICL players have had limited cricket over the past 12 months and there has been no ICL cricket played since 2008.

"Taking all these factors into account the Board felt there was little justification for a further stand-down period."

Vaughan continued: "Today's decision is by no means a guarantee of selection for any player. All former ICL players would need to earn their way back into the national side on merit."

Kapil Dev, More mum over ICL fate

Several New Zealanders opted to join the rebel league including Lou Vincent, Hamish Marshall and Andre Adam, but Bond and Tuffey would appear to be the only ones likely to reclaim their places in the Black Caps squad and Vaughan added: "We understand both of these players wish to return to international cricket - which is great news for cricket in New Zealand."

Vaughan said the NZC Board was adamant it did not condone unofficial cricket - and noted future International Cricket Council regulations relating to Disapproved Cricket could mean tougher sanctions on players who participated in rebel cricket events in the future.

"We are hopeful the problems caused by the ICL and Disapproved Cricket do not return again to damage cricket around the world. This has been a difficult period but New Zealand Cricket is looking forward to being able to select our best players to compete on the international stage."