Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his petition before the Colombo District Court seeking an interim order that would have compelled Sri Lanka Cricket to issue him a No Objection Certificate for participation in the 2026 Indian Premier League and other international franchise leagues.
When the case was taken up on Wednesday, counsel for Thushara told the court that several IPL matches had already been concluded and the petitioner no longer wished to proceed with the application. The court granted permission to withdraw the case and dismissed the petition.
The withdrawal closes the legal track in a dispute that has run through April. Thushara filed the petition earlier this month seeking to override SLC’s refusal to issue the NOC; SLC filed objections arguing that the pacer was under a central contract. Thushara subsequently issued a public apology and indicated willingness to withdraw the petition after mediation efforts. The World Cricketers’ Association had earlier backed the bowler’s stance in the dispute.
The IPL 2026 season is now well advanced, and the practical window for Thushara to join a franchise this year has closed. SLC has not publicly confirmed whether any disciplinary or contractual review will follow. The case does not resolve the broader governance question of how SLC handles NOC requests from centrally contracted players for overseas T20 leagues.
