Nuwan Thushara Takes Legal Action Against Sri Lanka Cricket Over IPL Participation
Legal Battle Over IPL Participation
Colombo, Sri Lanka - April 2: Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has initiated legal proceedings in the Colombo District Court against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after being denied a no-objection certificate (NOC) to join the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
Thushara, who is a member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team, is contesting the board's ruling, asserting that his central contract with SLC is valid until March 31, 2026. He claims that the refusal to issue an NOC is unjust and hampers his ability to earn a living, according to reports from a sports news outlet.
In his lawsuit, Thushara has named several SLC officials, including president Shammi Silva, secretary Bandula Dissanayake, treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda, and CEO Ashley de Silva as defendants. The case is set to be reviewed again on April 9, after the Easter court holidays.
On March 24, SLC informed Thushara that he would not receive an NOC due to his failure to meet newly established fitness standards. These standards include a 2 km run, a 20 m sprint, a 5-0-5 agility test, skinfold measurements, and a counter-movement jump, with players required to achieve a minimum score to qualify.
Thushara contends that these fitness requirements have not historically been linked to the issuance of NOCs and noted that he had previously received clearances under similar fitness conditions.
While the International Cricket Council (ICC) mandates that players secure an NOC from their home board to compete in overseas leagues, it allows individual boards to set their own criteria for granting or denying these certificates. This has led to ambiguity, especially for players who are no longer under central contracts.
The timing of Thushara's legal action may prevent him from participating in the IPL for several weeks, as the tournament began on March 28.
RCB, the reigning champions of the IPL, saw Thushara take just one wicket in his only match during the 2025 season. He was acquired for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 auction, but his contribution was limited to that single appearance. Additionally, he missed the home T20 World Cup for Sri Lanka and was hoping to recover from injury in time for IPL 2026.