India, April 3 -- Nuwan Thushara wants to play the IPL. But he requires a No Objection Certificate from his employer Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), which is not forthcoming.

In a renewed focus on fitness, SLC has mandated its contracted players to be certified fit before playing league cricket. Thushara hasn't made the cut. His Rs.1.6 crore contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hangs in the balance.

There are three entities in this saga: the cricket board, the franchise, and the supervising body, the International Cricket Council (ICC). The player is forced to pick sides and he decides to stand up for himself.

Thushara's national contract is not as lucrative. At 31, the right-arm pacer, with a bowling action modelled on Lasith Mali...