RCB's Nuwan Thushara withdraws case against Sri Lanka Cricket over IPL 2026 NOC
Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, who had dragged Sri Lanka Cricket to court for not issuing him a No Objection Certificate (NoC) to compete in the Indian Premier League, on Thursday withdrew the case against the governing body.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his legal case against Sri Lanka Cricket, bringing an end to a high-profile dispute over his participation in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
The Colombo District Court on Thursday accepted Thushara’s request to withdraw the petition, effectively closing a case that had drawn significant attention within Sri Lankan cricket. The pacer had earlier moved court after Sri Lanka Cricket refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a mandatory requirement for Sri Lankan players to compete in overseas franchise leagues like the IPL.
The dispute stemmed from SLC’s decision to deny Thushara clearance after he failed to meet newly introduced fitness benchmarks, specifically falling short of the required mark in the board’s 2-km run test. The fast bowler, who has represented Sri Lanka in around 30 T20Is since making his debut in 2022, had challenged the decision, arguing that the denial was unfair and significantly impacted his professional opportunities.
Thushara was set to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, having previously featured in the 2024 and 2025 editions. His move to take the board to court was seen as a rare instance of a Sri Lankan cricketer legally challenging the governing body over clearance policies tied to fitness and availability.
However, during the latest hearing, Thushara’s legal team informed the court that the player wished to withdraw the petition. With a major portion of the IPL season already completed, continuing the case no longer held practical value. His counsel stated that the timing of the proceedings meant there was little to be gained from pursuing the matter further.
The court subsequently dismissed the case following his request. Thushara also apologised to Sri Lanka Cricket and expressed his willingness to move on from the dispute, signalling an attempt to repair his relationship with the board after weeks of tension.
Thushara had been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 for Rs 1.60 crore. Earlier, he was part of Mumbai Indians, who had signed him for Rs 4.80 crore, and he impressed in his debut season by picking up eight wickets. He was initially bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1/26.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his legal case against Sri Lanka Cricket, bringing an end to a high-profile dispute over his participation in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
The Colombo District Court on Thursday accepted Thushara’s request to withdraw the petition, effectively closing a case that had drawn significant attention within Sri Lankan cricket. The pacer had earlier moved court after Sri Lanka Cricket refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a mandatory requirement for Sri Lankan players to compete in overseas franchise leagues like the IPL.
The dispute stemmed from SLC’s decision to deny Thushara clearance after he failed to meet newly introduced fitness benchmarks, specifically falling short of the required mark in the board’s 2-km run test. The fast bowler, who has represented Sri Lanka in around 30 T20Is since making his debut in 2022, had challenged the decision, arguing that the denial was unfair and significantly impacted his professional opportunities.
Thushara was set to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, having previously featured in the 2024 and 2025 editions. His move to take the board to court was seen as a rare instance of a Sri Lankan cricketer legally challenging the governing body over clearance policies tied to fitness and availability.
However, during the latest hearing, Thushara’s legal team informed the court that the player wished to withdraw the petition. With a major portion of the IPL season already completed, continuing the case no longer held practical value. His counsel stated that the timing of the proceedings meant there was little to be gained from pursuing the matter further.
The court subsequently dismissed the case following his request. Thushara also apologised to Sri Lanka Cricket and expressed his willingness to move on from the dispute, signalling an attempt to repair his relationship with the board after weeks of tension.
Thushara had been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 for Rs 1.60 crore. Earlier, he was part of Mumbai Indians, who had signed him for Rs 4.80 crore, and he impressed in his debut season by picking up eight wickets. He was initially bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1/26.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
