'Poor planning, not discipline' – Chaminda Vaas slams SLC over Thushara’s IPL NOC denial

Former pacer Chaminda Vaas has slammed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for being ignorant towards players’ fitness standards and imposing a stiff policy ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Vaas’ remarks come amid reports emerging that Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has been denied the No Objection Certification (NOC) from SLC to participate in IPL due to poor fitness standards following the introduction of the new policy at the eleventh hour.

“Fitness is extremely important when it comes to cricket, there is no doubt about that. 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,” Vaas wrote in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

SLC ignored fitness standards over the past 4 years. 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.

— Chaminda Vaas (@chaminda_vaas) March 26, 2026

The SLC had mandated the players to pass the fitness tests as per the new policy before being granted approval to participate in leagues such as the IPL, with only the players who clear the test set to be given the nod to participate.

Thushara reportedly failed to match the prescribed benchmark, leading to an NOC rejection with his IPL participation in limbo. The pacer was roped in by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 1.6 crore.

Sources indicate that Thushara is fit and has no injury concerns, confirming that the NOC denial is purely due to the failure to meet the prescribed fitness standards as per the newly introduced policy.

Multiple Sri Lankan players, including Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera, have obtained permission from SLC to participate in IPL.

The 19th edition of the tournament gets underway on March 28 in Bengaluru with a clash between defending champions RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad.