Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has revealed that a number of its centrally contracted players have yet to complete the board’s required fitness screenings, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana among those whose availability for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 could still hinge on test clearance. The update adds another layer of uncertainty for the two players as they are set to represent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively.
Fitness tests and IPL clearance status
SLC confirmed that out of 45 centrally retained Sri Lanka players, only 24 have currently passed the mandatory fitness test. The remaining group includes 15 players who have not yet taken the test and six others who have failed at least one attempt.
For players yet to complete the fitness checks, the reported explanations span a mix of injury concerns and practical issues related to scheduling and logistics. Despite the broader list of players involved, Hasaranga and Pathirana remain particularly significant because of their scheduled IPL roles in 2026.
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Hasaranga is dealing with a left hamstring problem, leaving his fitness-test timetable uncertain as he has not applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
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Pathirana, who sustained a calf strain during the T20 World Cup 2026, has begun bowling sessions in the nets as he works towards match readiness.
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Reports suggest Pathirana may be able to arrive for IPL action in India by around mid-April, though SLC has not officially fixed a date for his fitness test.
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It is expected that Pathirana’s SLC-mandated fitness assessment will be conducted within the coming week.
SLC’s NOC condition ahead of IPL 2026
Before the IPL 2026 begins, SLC has set a clear pathway for players requesting permission to participate: an NOC will be granted only if a player successfully completes SLC’s mandatory Physical Performance Test.
In its communication, SLC stated: “SLC wishes to announce that players who have requested to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) only upon successfully passing SLC’s mandatory Physical Performance Test.”
SLC also outlined that it is currently running an eight-week specialised training cycle for all nationally contracted players. The purpose is to lift overall physical performance levels in preparation for forthcoming international commitments, while the compulsory physical performance examinations continue alongside that training.
The board added that players who reach the required standards will be cleared for domestic competitions and will also be issued the NOC necessary for taking part in IPL 2026. SLC further emphasised that only those who successfully meet the benchmarks in the fitness tests will be allowed to participate in the ongoing domestic programme and receive permission to play in the IPL 2026.
