Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has extended a formal apology to Sri Lanka Cricket and indicated he is ready to abandon legal proceedings in his dispute over the No Objection Certificate tied to the board’s mandatory fitness requirements. The move opens the door for a possible compromise after what had threatened to become a prolonged legal battle.
Thushara, who was contracted to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹1.60 crore (around US$170,000) for the current IPL season, was denied an NOC after failing to meet Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly introduced fitness benchmarks. The policy requires players to satisfy specific standards before being cleared for overseas T20 leagues.
In his letter, Thushara clarified he never intended to drag the board into court, stressing that his actions were driven by a sense of injustice and a desire to be heard. He expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and reiterated his willingness to seek an amicable, out-of-court resolution.
The case, first heard on April 9, has been postponed to April 23, with Sri Lanka Cricket maintaining that the fitness policy applies uniformly to all players. At the heart of the dispute is Thushara’s claim that his contract expired on March 31, and therefore the board should not restrict his IPL participation.
With Thushara now signalling a climbdown, attention turns to whether both sides can reach common ground quickly and avoid further distractions for Sri Lankan cricket.
