SLC to hold fitness tests next week before issuing NOC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will hold fitness tests for some of its players early next week in Colombo before issuing the No Objection Certificate for their participation in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. Apart from Kolkata Knight Riders' Matheesha Pathirana, who has been in news for his injury, Wanindu Hasaranga (Lucknow SuperGiants), Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Nuwan Thushara (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) are among those expected to undergo the tests.

"There are fitness tests scheduled by SLC on Monday and Tuesday and we will know about their players only after that," said officials of multiple IPL franchises. Dushmantha Chameera and Pathum Nissanka (both Delhi Capitals), along with Kamindu Mendis (Sunrisers Hyderabad), are among the other Sri Lankan players who will feature in the season starting March 28. Seven Sri Lankans, in all, are drafted for the season.

Pathirana, Hasaranga, Malinga and Thushara missed the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, either fully or in part, due to various injuries, the details of which remain unclear. Hasaranga, it is known, has been sidelined by a left hamstring tear since the opening game against Ireland on February 8. Pathirana played three games of the World Cup before being pulled out. Respective franchises are confident that the SLC will clear the players. Cricbuzz has reached out to the Sri Lanka board for updates on the NOC.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed the annual captain and coaches meeting, ahead of the season, will be held in Mumbai on March 25. The confirmation comes in the midst of speculation of its postponement or advancement. The meeting and shooting will be held between 12 noon and 6 pm on that day.

The BCCI, it is learnt, had proposed advancing the meeting by a day, but it is understood that the franchises were not prepared. The board eventually settled on March 25, as first reported by Cricbuzz on March 11.

The captains' and coaches' meeting is significant as the BCCI discusses the proposed changes to playing conditions and introduces new rules for the season to the franchises. It was at this meeting last year that the board apprised the teams of the changes to over-rate penalties, the expansion of DRS and the introduction of a mandatory ball change, among other measures.

It is understood that there are no major changes to the playing conditions in the upcoming season, although there may be some new guidelines for the teams on jerseys, equipment and promotional activities.

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