Sri Lanka board denies NOC; Thushara moves court to play IPL for RCB

Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has moved the Colombo District Court, seek an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League, according to Sri Lankan news outlet Newswire.

The case is scheduled to be heard on April 9.

In his petition, Thushara has named SLC President Shammi Silva, Secretary Bandula Dissanayake, Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda and CEO Ashley de Silva as respondents.

Thushara stated that he was picked by Royal Challengers for the 2026 IPL. He had previously featured in the tournament in 2024 and 2025 after obtaining NOCs from SLC.

However, SLC declined to issue the NOC for the upcoming season, citing that he had not met the required fitness standards, as per the court filing.

The pacer argued that his contract with SLC expired on March 31, 2026, and that he had already informed the board of his decision not to renew it, effectively stepping away from international cricket.

He further claimed that he had been told he would not be considered for national selection, making the refusal to grant an NOC on fitness grounds unreasonable.

Thushara also maintained that his current fitness levels are in line with what he has maintained throughout his career, and that similar standards had not prevented SLC from granting him NOCs in previous years.

He told the court that failure to obtain the NOC could result in him being replaced by his IPL franchise, leading to a significant financial loss and impacting his future career prospects.

Thushara is seeking a declaration that he is entitled to the NOC, along with interim and permanent orders directing SLC to issue the certificate, allowing him to take part in the IPL and other overseas leagues.

Who is Nuwan Thushara?

The 31 year old Nuwan Thushara is a Sri Lankan right arm medium fast bowler, known for his sling style action that is often compared to Lasith Malinga. He made his IPL debut in 2024 with Mumbai Indians and has played 8 matches so far, taking 9 wickets with best figures of 3 for 28. He was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹1.60 crore ahead of the 2026 season.