Colombo, March 20 (NationPress) - On Friday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that players must finish crucial physical performance assessments before they can be approved for participation in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).

SLC confirmed that Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Dushmantha Chameera have successfully obtained their No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Meanwhile, players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, and Eshan Malinga will only be allowed to join their respective teams post the completion of their fitness evaluations, likely in the upcoming week.

“Only those who meet the necessary standards of the physical performance tests will be permitted to participate in the ongoing domestic tournament and will also be granted an NOC for IPL 2026,” stated SLC.

“As a result, Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendis, who have successfully passed their physical performance tests, have been given NOCs to participate in the IPL. Nuwan Thushara’s eligibility for an NOC is contingent on the results of his Physical Performance Test.

“Players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshan Malinga, and Matheesha Pathirana, who have applied for NOCs to take part in IPL 2026, are yet to undergo the Physical Performance Test as they are still recovering from injuries. These players will complete their assessments upon finishing their rehabilitation programs,” SLC mentioned in its statement on Friday.

With IPL 2026 set to commence on March 28, Chameera and Nissanka are set to join the Delhi Capitals, while Mendis will be part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Pathirana, who is set to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders, has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury that prevented him from contributing to Sri Lanka in the latter stages of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.

Hasaranga (Lucknow Super Giants), Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad), and Thushara (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) also faced injuries during the World Cup, missing games due to hamstring, shoulder, and broken left thumb issues, respectively.

“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) would like to inform that players seeking to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) only after successfully completing SLC’s mandated Physical Performance Test,” SLC reiterated.

“Currently, SLC is implementing an eight-week specialized physical training regimen for all nationally contracted players to improve their physical performance standards in anticipation of upcoming international engagements.

“In conjunction with this initiative, players are also undergoing essential physical performance assessments, a standard procedure to evaluate fitness levels,” SLC concluded.