Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowler Nuwan Thushara has taken legal action against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for refusing to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the current IPL 2026 season. Thushara, a Sri Lankan pace bowler signed by RCB, has filed a lawsuit in the Colombo District Court requesting SLC to provide the necessary clearance for him to join the team. The case is set to be heard on April 9 as reported by News Wire.
The disagreement arose when SLC declined to issue Thushara an NOC due to his inability to meet the board’s new mandatory fitness standards for players participating in overseas T20 leagues. SLC’s chief executive, Ashley de Silva, stated that players must achieve a minimum of 17 out of 29 points across five fitness criteria to be eligible. Thushara reportedly fell short of this requirement, leading to the rejection of his IPL clearance.
Thushara highlighted that his central contract with Sri Lanka Cricket ended on March 31, and he had informed the board of his decision not to renew it. He argued that he had participated in previous IPL seasons and being blocked this time could result in losing his spot in RCB’s squad, as well as potential earnings and future career opportunities.
There are concerns that RCB might seek a replacement if the NOC issue remains unresolved. RCB has had a strong start to the IPL 2026 season, currently holding the second position on the points table with two points and an impressive net run rate of +2.907. They began their campaign with a convincing six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Their next match is against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, April 5, at the same venue.