Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his legal case against Sri Lankan cricket, ending the high-profile dispute over his participation in the 2026 Indian Premier League season.
The District Court in Colombo on Thursday accepted Thyhar’s request to withdraw the petition, effectively closing a case that has attracted considerable attention within Sri Lankan cricket. Temper had earlier moved to the 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 such as the IPL.
The dispute stemmed from the SLC’s decision to deny Thesehar a clearance after he failed to meet newly introduced fitness benchmarks, specifically not achieving the required mark in the 2km run test. The fast bowler, who has represented Sri Lanka in around 30 T20Is since his debut in 2022, contested the decision, claiming the rejection was unfair and significantly affected his career opportunities.
Thesehara was scheduled to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 IPL, having previously appeared in the 2024 and 2025 editions. His move to appear in court was seen as a rare instance of a Sri Lankan cricketer legally challenging the governing body over eligibility and availability screening policies.
However, during the latest hearing, Alsohara’s legal team informed the court that the player wishes to withdraw the application. As the main part of the IPL season was already completed, there was no longer any practical value in pursuing this case. His lawyer said the timing of the proceedings meant there was little to be gained from further hearing the matter.
The court subsequently dismissed the case at his request. Thesehara also apologized to Sri Lanka Cricket and expressed his willingness to withdraw from the dispute, signaling an attempt to mend his relationship with the board after weeks of tension.
Thesehara has been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 for Rs 1.60 crore. He was earlier a part of Mumbai Indians who signed him for Rs 4.80 crore and impressed in his debut season by picking up eight wickets. He was originally bought for Rs 1.60 crore in the 2025 mega auction where he appeared in one match and returned figures of 1/26.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
23 Apr 2026 15:43 IST
