Thushara takes Sri Lanka Cricket to court after being denied NOC for IPL 2026
Nuwan Thushara is done waiting. The Sri Lankan fast bowler appeared before the Colombo District Court on Wednesday to challenge Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to block his participation in IPL 2026 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
What happened in court
Thushara's petition names SLC president Shammi Silva, secretary Bandula Dissanayake, treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda and CEO Ashley de Silva as defendants. His legal team argued that the board's refusal to issue a No-Objection Certificate has no reasonable basis, particularly since his central contract with SLC expired on March 31. The next hearing has been scheduled for April 9.
The 31-year-old had already told SLC he would not renew his contract and intended to step away from international cricket. Despite that, the board refused to clear him for the IPL, citing its prescribed fitness standards.
The fitness argument does not add up
Thushara's camp pointed out a glaring inconsistency. He received NOCs from SLC for both the 2024 and 2025 IPL seasons without any issues, and his fitness levels have remained comparable throughout. Using fitness as a justification now, when the player has already left the international setup, feels more like a control mechanism than a genuine concern.
RCB retained Thushara for 1.60 crore ahead of the 2026 season. He is one of the few Sri Lankan quicks with genuine pace and T20 credentials, and the franchise needs him. RCB have already lost bowling options in the lead-up to this tournament and can hardly afford another setback.
A growing pattern across cricket boards
This is not the first time a cricket board has tried to use the NOC system as leverage over a player wanting to prioritise franchise cricket. Pakistan's PCB took legal action against Blessing Muzarabani after he left his PSL contract to join KKR, and similar disputes have surfaced in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe over the past two years.
The difference here is that Thushara has taken the fight to court. If the Colombo District Court rules in his favour on April 9, it could set a precedent that weakens boards' ability to hold retired or out-of-contract players hostage through NOC denials.
For now, RCB wait. Thushara waits. And Sri Lanka Cricket will have to explain to a judge why a player whose contract has already ended needs their permission to earn a living.
Cricket Updates
