FILE PHOTO: Nuwan Thushara of Royal Challengers Bengaluru during an IPL 2025 match. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

In a stunning climb-down, Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara, who had taken his cricket board to court for denying him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for IPL participation, has now extended an apology to the governing body and is considering withdrawing his case.

Sri Lanka Cricket sources said that Thushara had apologised in an e-mail to SLC, saying it was not his intention to “cause inconvenience to the governing body”.

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

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The backdown came as the SLC yesterday told the District Court in Colombo that objections will be filed on Thushara’s application for court intervention to enable his participation in the 2026 IPL.

The 31-year-old had filed a case seeking an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC). the SLC had declined his request, citing failed fitness tests.

The court allowed the SLC plea and the next hearing was set for April 23.

Thushara has 30 T20 international appearances to his credit since 2022. He was to appear for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season having previously played in 2024 and 2025.

Published on Apr 10, 2026