Wanindu Hasaranga forced to pull out of The Hundred as SLC denies NOC

Sri Lanka’s star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was forced to give up on a £100,000 contract with the Manchester Originals in The Hundred 2022 after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) denied him the No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

According to a report in the ESPNcricinfo, SLC chief executive, Ashley de Silva, has revealed the reason behind the whole development. De Silva said the board turned down Hasaranga’s request as the apex body wants the tweaker to be physically and mentally fresh ahead of the Asia Cup, which starts on August 27, and the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

Notably, Hasaranga was earlier expected to miss The Hundred due to clash of dates with the Lanka Premier League (LPL) but soon the tournament got postponed. However, The Hundred officials have an option to retain him for the 2023 season if they want to sign a contract with him.

For now, Originals have signed Tristan Stubbs, South Africa’s middle-order batter, who hit 72 off 28 balls in the first T20l against England last week, as a replacement for Hasaranga. He will soon link up with Originals after the Proteas’ second T20I against Ireland on Friday.

Manchester Originals squad (Updated):

Jos Buttler, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Matt Parkinson, Jamie Overton, Tom Hartley, Tom Lammonby, Colin Ackermann, Wayne Madsen, Fred Klaasen, Calvin Harrison, Andre Russell, Laurie Evans, Tristan Stubbs, Dan Worrall, Sean Abbott.