Chaminda Vaas has criticised the Sri Lanka Cricket board after reports emerged that Nuwan Thushara was denied a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to join the RCB squad for IPL 2026.
SLC had announced earlier in March that players would only be granted a no-objection certificate for IPL after completing a mandatory physical performance test. The board also conducted an “eight-week specialised physical training program for all nationally contracted players” to improve fitness standards.
Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis were granted their respective NOCs, while Eshan Malinga has also joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad ahead of their tournament opener. But Thushara, Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana are yet to pass their performance tests.
Newswire.lk then claimed on Thursday (March 26) that the RCB bowler was denied an NOC altogether after failing to pass his performance test. The report added that Thushara wasn’t injured, but there were concerns regarding his overall fitness.
SLC ignored fitness standards for years: Chaminda Vaas
The development didn’t go down well with Vaas, who felt the player was a victim of "poor planning".
“SLC ignored fitness standards over the past four years,” he wrote on X. “Fitness in modern cricket is crucial. But you can’t ignore it for years and then suddenly enforce strict standards just before the IPL. A player missing out now feels more like poor planning than discipline.”
Sports Pavilion’s Danushka Aravinda has since reported that Thushara is set to undergo another fitness test, which will include a 2km run, in Colombo on Friday (March 27). There has been no official update from either SLC or RCB on the pacer’s potential participation in the upcoming edition of the IPL.
The Bengaluru-based franchise begin their title defence in the tournament opener on March 28 against SRH. Thushara played just one match as RCB won their first-ever IPL in the 2025 season. He featured in seven games during the 2024 campaign, picking up eight wickets.
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