Matheesha Pathirana has reportedly been denied NOC for IPL 2026, adding to Kolkata Knight Riders’ concerns.
Matheesha Pathirana will miss IPL 2026 after Sri Lanka Cricket reportedly refused to grant him a No-Objection Certificate(NOC). The development adds to Kolkata Knight Riders’ concerns after Mustafizur Rahman’s earlier exit.
KKR had signed Pathirana for INR 11.00 crore in the mini-auction. However, the plan has taken a hit. The exact reason behind the decision remains unclear. Reports from FPJ suggest fitness concerns could be a factor.
The fast bowler has stayed away from competitive cricket for some time. Pathirana also missed Sri Lanka’s series against England and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at home.
READ ALSO | MS Dhoni’s ‘Sheesha Man’ Secret Revealed By Former CSK Teammate
Notably, Kolkata Knight Riders had earlier managed Mustafizur Rahman’s exit by signing Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement. However, the situation with Matheesha Pathirana presents a tougher challenge with IPL 2026 nearing. The season starts on March 28, and KKR have already begun preparations.
Neither KKR nor the IPL Technical Committee has issued an official update so far. A decision is expected soon with the tournament just days away.
This article follows WicketWatcher’s editorial standards. Learn more in our Editorial Policy or report an issue via our Corrections Policy.