The Cricket Bulletin: Major Talking Points | March 22, 2026

SLC asks players to obtain NOC to play IPL 2026

Sri Lanka cricket board asked the players to pass the fitness test to obtain the no-objection certificates to be able to play in the franchise leagues. Wanindu Hasaranga (Lucknow Super Giants), Nuwan Thushara (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Matheesha Pathirana (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are set to join their respective franchises in the next few weeks to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

While Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka (both Delhi Capitals) and Kamindu Mendis (Sunrisers Hyderabad) have already passed the “physical performance test” required to take part in the IPL, SLC named three players who are yet to undergo the same. These three players were injured during the T20 World Cup.

SLC said in a release, “Nuwan Thushara’s eligibility for a NOC to participate in the IPL will be subject to the outcome of his physical performance test. Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshan Malinga, and Matheesha Pathirana, who have requested NOCs to participate in IPL 2026, are yet to undergo the physical performance test, as they are still undergoing rehabilitation to recover from injuries sustained.”

“Season of opportunities”, KKR head coach on IPL 2026

Abhishek Nayar, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach, called the upcoming season as a season of opportunities. The franchise has already been hit by a number of injury issues as their fast-bowling department already appears thin. This will also be the first season for KKR since 2014 without Andre Russell, who was a massive part of the franchise. After scoring 2,593 runs and picking up 122 wickets for KKR, Russell announced his retirement from IPL in November 2025.

Speaking of the same, Nayar said, “Andre Russell has been a flag-bearer of this franchise. So over the years, what he’s done in T20 cricket, I think it’s going to be hard to replicate it. It’s a season of opportunities. Yes, you had a few misses with the bowling.”

He added, “Obviously, we expect every player to sort of be true to their potential and try and make sure they can make a name for themselves. But having said that, these are opportunities created for a lot of young cricketers in our set-up, who can sort of put their name there in this franchise legacy and then create their own brand name.”

Reeza Hendricks joins PSL, signed by Karachi Kings

Reeza Hendricks has been signed by Karachi Kings for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 campaign as a replacement for Johnson Charles. The South Africa better has come as a late replacement for the West Indies opener who will be missing the season for personal reasons. For Hendricks, this will be his second stint in the PSL after featuring for Multan Sultans in 2024.

For Multan Sultans, Hendricks scored 304 runs in eight innings at an average of 43.43 and a strike rate of 134.51. Hendrick has played 296 T20s, hitting 64 fifties and five hundreds in the format. Hendrick is now part of Karachi Kings’ experienced overseas names which includes David Warner, Adam Zampa, Moeen Ali, Muhammad Waseem.