Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara requested a court order on Thursday to guarantee his playing rights in the current IPL after the nation’s cricket authority declined to provide him a No Objection Certificate because of “failed fitness tests”.
The 31-year-old, who has a contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, filed a complaint in the Colombo District Court, requesting an injunction compelling Sri Lanka Cricket to grant the NOC. The hearing for the matter is scheduled for April 9.
The player, who has made 30 T20 international appearances for his nation since 2022, has reportedly argued that his contract with the SLC expired on March 31 and that he had no intention of requesting an extension, according to local media sources.
He claimed to have expressed his desire to terminate his international career to the SLC. Therefore, the court should overturn the rejection of NOC based on unsuccessful fitness testing. Fitness tests were now required by SLC in order to be selected for the national squad.
Thushara, however, claimed that the SLC had previously permitted him to play at comparable levels and that his fitness levels were never deemed inadequate.
In 2025, RCB paid Rs 1.6 crore to acquire Thushara. Last season, he participated in one game during the team’s championship run. In 137 Twenty20 matches, he has taken 174 wickets at an average of 21.25.
