Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara was among the 46 cricketers awarded central contracts by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday (June 2) after he withdrew a legal case against the board in April. The pacer was denied a no-objection certificate (NOC) by SLC in April to participate in IPL 2026.
Thushara had objected to the board’s decision to make a fitness test mandatory for granting him an NOC to play franchise cricket overseas, but he later withdrew the case after the former board members were ousted by the Sri Lankan government.
According to available information, after withdrawing the case, Thushara wrote to the new administrators, announcing his availability for national selection, which was accepted by the newly formed Transformation Committee.
Jaffna
leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, spinner Tharindu Ratnayake, batters Kamil Mishara and Lasith Croospulle, and all-rounders Isitha Wijesundara, Wanuja Sahan, and Dilum Sudeera are among the players who have received central contracts for the first time. However, left-handed batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa was not awarded a contract despite playing domestic cricket in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Former captain Dinesh Chandimal, pacer Kasun Rajitha, who primarily plays Test cricket, and white-ball specialist Binura Fernando have also retained their central contracts.
Men’s national contracted players: Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Niroshan Dickwella, Jeffrey Vandersay, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Eshan Malinga, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Sonal Dinusha, Sahan Arachchige, Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Lahiru Udara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Isitha Wijesundara, Nishan Madushka, Akila Dananjaya, Chamika Karunaratne, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Mohammed Shiraz, Wanuja Sahan, Dilum Sudeera, Tharindu Rathnayake
