Sri Lanka denies Dickwella NOC to play in CPL after refusal to tour Pakistan

Dickwella had earlier opted out of the limited-overs series in Pakistan in September.

Niroshan Dickwella | Getty

Sri Lanka Cricket has denied wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella and all-rounder Thisara Perera the no-objection certificate to participate in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League. 

The decision has been taken by SLC in wake of 10 of the country's top players, including Dickwella and Perera, opting out of this month's limited-overs tour of Pakistan due to security concerns. 

"It is our policy not to give NOCs when there is a national tour, and the players would have known that," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo

"So Dickwella has not been granted a 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 15 September, so he can also join the team in training."

In Thisara's case, the NOC was initially granted as he played two games in CPL 2019 for St Lucia Zouks but that was conditioned upon his availability for all international assignments. 

However, the cricketer will now have to return to Sri Lanka following the board's order. 

Dickwella represented the nation during the recent T20I series at home versus New Zealand. 

Top cream of the Island nation's players have decided not to travel Karachi and Lahore for the three ODIs and three T20Is that are scheduled from September 27. 

The stance is despite high-level security assurances provided by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket's willingness to tour as the scarce of the Lahore terrorist attack in 2009 when a Sri Lanka team bus was targetted still remain fresh. 

(Inputs from ANI)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 11 Sep, 2019

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