India, April 23 -- The Indian Premier League, the biggest stage in franchise cricket, often brings many high-profile news stories and disputes over the course of its campaign. There have already been growing concerns about the balance between franchise leagues and national cricket boards, especially as workload management becomes a key issue ahead of a long international season.

However, a rare dispute emerged at the start of the 2026 campaign, with Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara being denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Sri Lanka Cricket to join his franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, for the start of the season. The dispute arose after SLC ruled that Thushara had failed to meet the newly updated fitness standards, specifica...