Denied permission to play IPL, Nuwan Thushara apologises to Sri Lanka board after NOC saga

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has taken a step back in his dispute with Sri Lanka Cricket after earlier going to court over being denied permission to play in the IPL.

Thushara had filed a case after SLC refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is required for players to participate in overseas leagues.

Now, in a surprising turn, Thushara has apologised to the board via email, saying it was not his intention to “cause inconvenience to the governing body”.

He clarified that he was only “seeking fairness and justice” as he felt he had been treated unfairly.

Dispute over NOC

The issue began when SLC rejected Thushara’s NOC request, reportedly due to failed fitness tests. In response, the 31-year-old approached the court, asking for intervention so he could play in IPL 2026, where he was set to feature for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

However, SLC opposed his plea in court and said it would file objections. The court accepted the board’s request, and the next hearing has been scheduled for April 23.

Following this, Thushara appears to be reconsidering his legal action and may withdraw the case altogether. His apology signals a softer stance and an attempt to ease tensions with the board.

Thushara, who has played 30 T20 internationals since 2022, had also featured in previous IPL seasons. While his immediate participation in IPL 2026 remains uncertain, the situation now seems to be moving towards a resolution rather than further conflict.