SLC Calls Back Thisara Perera From Caribbean Premier League, Denies NOC To Niroshan Dickwella After Duo Pulls Out From Pakistan Tour

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken action against Niroshan Dickwella and Thisara Perera for backing out of the tour of Sri Lanka. In case of Dickwella, the board has refused to issue him an NOC to play in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League. On the other hand, the board has asked Perera to return to the country by September 15 and train with the team.

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Perera is already in the Caribbean and his CPL commitments could be one of the reasons behind him backing out of the tour. The decision of Perera to back out came as a surprise as he has been part of three series in Pakistan.

In 2017, he travelled there with World XI side. The same year, he played one T20I in Pakistan even when many Sri Lankan players backed out. He returned to play PSL in 2018 and was expected to be part of the side that will play in Pakistan. Since he has been asked to return now, there could be a case when he might make himself available for the tour.

In the case of Dickwella, he had already pulled out from Pakistan tour along with nine other players. Defending the board’s move on the update regarding Dickwella and Perera, Ashley de Silva, SLC’s CEO, said that the board’s policy does not allow issuing NOC to players while the team is playing international cricket.

“It’s our policy not to give NOCs when there is a national tour, and the players would have known that. So Dickwella has not been granted an NOC and will be expected to train with the national team in the next few weeks. We have also asked Thisara to return to the country on September 15, so he can also join the team in training,” he said.

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Despite 10 senior players backing out from the tour, the Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan is still one. The visitors will have new captains for the ODI and T20I series.

Lahiru Thirimane will lead in Sri Lanka in ODIs while Dasuna Shanaka will take over from Lasith Malinga in T20I series. The six white-ball games will be played between September 27 to October 9.