In a surprising turn of events, Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has moved court seeking permission to participate in IPL 2026 after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) denied him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) over failed fitness tests.
The 31-year-old, who is part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru setup, has filed a petition in the Colombo District Court, requesting an order directing the board to grant him clearance. The matter is scheduled to be heard on April 9.
Nuwan Thushara challenges NOC denial
Thushara has argued that SLC’s refusal is unfair, especially since his central contract with the board ended on March 31.
As per reports, the pacer has no plans to renew his deal and has already informed the board about his intention to step away from international cricket.
The core of the dispute lies in SLC’s new policy. The board has made it mandatory for players to pass fitness clearance tests before being granted NOCs to participate in overseas leagues.
This move is aimed at ensuring players are physically fit and managing workloads better, especially for fast bowlers.
However, Thushara has challenged this rule in his case. He has claimed that his fitness has never been a concern earlier and that he was allowed to play under similar conditions in the past. He believes denying him the NOC now, based on these tests, is unjustified.
IPL opportunity at stake
Thushara was picked up by RCB for INR 1.6 crore ahead of the 2025 season and was part of their title-winning campaign, though he featured in just one game.
In T20 Internationals, he has represented Sri Lanka in 30 matches, picking up 36 wickets at an average of around 22.50. These numbers underline his effectiveness in the shortest format, particularly as a bowler who can break partnerships in the middle overs.
Notably, he was also not part of Sri Lanka’s squad for the recent T20 World Cup 2026, where the team failed to reach the semi-finals.
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