Sri Lankan pace bowler Nuwan Thushara is in an unusual off-field struggle as he issues a lawsuit in Colombo District Court against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regarding a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from SLC, which he needs in order to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Thushara has submitted a lawsuit requesting that the court order SLC to provide the NOC after SLC refused to issue it on the ground that Thushara had not met SLC’s fitness criteria. A hearing on the matter was held on Thursday, with a ruling on the original motion pending until 9 April.
Thushara is now at risk of having his contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore and his chance to earn through playing with that franchise, if he is not granted an NOC by the SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) which is what is currently being discussed in the court system. To show the seriousness of this matter to the other parties involved, Thushara has filed for a determination that he has a right to an NOC and that he should have interim and permanent orders from the court against the SLC to require them to issue him the NOC. The SLC’s CEO (Mr. Sujeewa Godaliyadda), the President of SLC (Mr. Ashley de Silva), and the Treasurer of the SLC (Mr. Bandula Dissanayake) are listed as defendants in this action based upon their actions in this matter. Of note, there were other parties involved in the route used to enable Thushara’s access to play on the team.
It has been reported that he played in both the 2024 and 2025 IPL seasons after receiving NOCs from SLC and has indicated in his petition that he has completed all obligations to the board, which expired on March 31, 2026. He made the board aware of this upon advising them that he would not be renewing his contract and would cease playing for Sri Lanka at the international level. He further contends that he was informed by the BCCI prior to the IPL season that he would not be considered for national responsibilities, thereby making it difficult for him to accept the BCCI’s refusal for fitness reasons.
The characteristics of Thushara’s NOC appeal support why he is ultimately considered a valuable T20 player. The IPL’s official profile identifies him as a bowler with an unusual slinging style and an ability to deliver very accurate death balls. According to Cricbuzz, Thushara was born in Thalawa on August 6, 1994 as a right-handed fast-medium bowler and has played for multiple franchises globally within the T20 format; these include Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town, Dubai Capitals, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Though Thushara’s IPL stats look unimpressive, his role counts for much more than a bowlers for a single game on the pitch. Cricbuzz lists Thushara as having played in eight IPL games, taken nine wickets with an impressive best figure of 3/28; while the IPL site points to the way franchises value a bowler in pressure situations (final overs) will get them to the next level by delivering pace, angles and yorkers at crucial times. Why this profile is important is the availability of the player trumps any other factor that may have created confusion for other teams, as they have only one player to deal with on the field at a time.
The Thushara case is a perfect example that player investment in this modern franchise-based world will not only occur simply by auctioning players, practicing at the facility, and performing in games, but through many factors beyond the game you may play (players contract, medical examinations, release form and national board policy). In Thushara’s case, for RCB, will he be able to fulfil the role of a high-skilled bowler when the franchise requires the most from him, when the season is relied on the thinnest margins to determine a winner? Similarly, for Thushara, the next court date could determine the outcome of any over he bowls.
