New Delhi: The Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) has cleared SRH fast bowler Eshan Malinga to participate in the IPL 2026, but Nuwan Thushara, Wanindu Hasaranga
and Matheesha Pathirana are still awaiting clearance from the board to play in the league.
Malinga will report to the SRH franchise on Tuesday (March 24), a team official confirmed to Cricbuzz. The pacer will arrive in Hyderabad with Sri Lankan teammate Kamindu Mendis, who has already been granted an NOC.
Hasaranga and Pathirana didn’t have the chance to attend the fitness tests on Monday, due to which their arrival for the IPL 2026 will be delayed. Earlier, it was reported that Pathirana will miss part of the season, and the Kolkata-based franchise is ready to wait for his full recovery rather than looking for a replacement.
KKR bought the Sri Lankan pacer for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. LSG have yet to receive any information on Hasaranga, who was picked by the franchise for Rs 2 crore.
There is also no information about RCB pacer Thushara. The SLC has recently stated in a statement that Thushara’s availability for the IPL is subject to the result of his physical performance test. His NOC status is not cleared by the board, but other Sri Lankan players, including Dushmantha Chameera and Pathun Nissanka, along with recent RR signing Dashun Shanaka, have been cleared to play in the IPL.
Cummins to arrive in Bengaluru on March 24
The SRH officials have revealed that regular skipper Pat Cummins will arrive in Bengaluru on March 24. SRH will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 opening match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.
The Hyderabad-based franchise also confirmed that Ishan Kishan, the stand-in captain, will attend the skippers’ meeting in Mumbai on March 25. All 10 franchise captains are scheduled for a six-hour engagement with the IPL broadcaster Jiostar, beginning with a photoshoot at 12 noon and ending in a meeting with the BCCI officials from 4:30 PM to 6 PM.
