SRI LANKAN FAST BOWLER Nuwan Thushara has approached the Colombo District Court seeking permission to participate in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after being denied clearance by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The legal move comes after SLC refused to grant Thushara a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC), a prerequisite for players to feature in overseas leagues like the IPL.
Thushara, who is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad, has filed a petition requesting the court to direct Sri Lanka Cricket to issue the NOC, arguing that the denial is unjustified.
Thushara was denied the NOC for failing to meet newly introduced fitness standards set by SLC. He claims his fitness levels are consistent with his past career, when he had been granted clearances earlier. His central contract expired on March 31, and he has informed SLC that he does not intend to renew it and has argued that missing the IPL would result in significant financial and professional loss
The petition names top SLC officials, including President Shammi Silva and CEO Ashley de Silva, as respondents. A court hearing is reportedly scheduled in early April, with the outcome likely to determine whether he can join his IPL franchise.
