IPL 2021 | Chameera, Hasaranga granted NOC by SLC for UAE leg

Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, were signed-up by the RCB, alongside Singapore’s Tim David with Finn Allen, Scott Kuggeleijn, Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams and Kane Richardson missing out of the UAE league of the tournament. Uncapped English quick George Garton too, was signed up later.

Both Hasaranga and Chameera had featured in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs leg against India at home last month, with the former returning with seven wickets at 9.57 in the 2-1 T20I series win. 

The two will be able to join the team on September 15, after the conclusion of home ODIs and T20Is against South Africa early next month. They have been granted permission till October 9, following which they’ll have to join the national team for their warm-up games in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup qualifying round, that starts from October 17.

This would mean that they would miss out on the play-offs of the IPL, should RCB go through. It had been understood last week that the two had not taken the board's permission, neither were they aware of the signings.

"The permission for the players was granted by the SLC in consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee. The 'No Objection Certificate' to the duo was issued for them to join the IPL teams starting from 15th September (following the completion of the South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka). The two players will join the Sri Lanka squad on 10th October 2021 to play in the two warm-up games prior to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers," an official SLC statement said.

With five wins from seven games, RCB currently stand third in the points table. They will resume their campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders on September 20 in Dubai.