During the match, the Sri Lankan players wore black armbands as a sign of respect and memory for Uncle Percy, who was a fixture at Sri Lanka’s cricket matches for several decades. He gained enormous popularity during the 1996 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted, and was known for waving a large Sri Lankan flag, offering encouragement to players, and even accompanying them to and from the dressing room.”Sri Lankan players will wear black armbands during today’s game against India to pay tribute to the late Percy Abeysekera, the legendary cheerleader,” stated. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka
Abeysekera’s presence at cricket matches, his unwavering support for the Sri Lankan team, and his infectious enthusiasm left an indelible mark on the sport. The SLC’s statement hailed his significant role in Sri Lankan cricket, stating, “Abeysekera was an integral part of the game of cricket in Sri Lanka and played a pivotal role from beyond the boundary line to support and motivate the players. His towering legacy spans . across Sri Lanka’s pre- and post-Test eras, and his name will remain engraved forever among cricket-lovers.”
India’s captain Rohit Sharma also shared his memories of meeting Abeysekera during a visit to his house in Colombo. He remembered Uncle Percy as a true and passionate fan of the game and an extraordinary supporter of the Sri Lankan team.
Rohit, reflecting on his first encounters with Uncle Percy, said, “When I first went to Sri Lanka in 2006, actually for (the) U19 World Cup, he was there, but I was a little boy, I had no idea how. things work outside (the) cricket ground. I didn’t like that too much.”
![Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma. (Reuters Photo) Sri Lanka](https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/imgsize-23456,msid-104912703,width-600,resizemode-4/104912703.jpg)
However, it was during a tour with the Indian senior side in 2008 that Rohit had his first close interaction with Uncle Percy. He recalled the passionate support and genuine enthusiasm that Abeysekera brought to the game.
Rohit expressed his sadness over the loss of uncle Percy and praised him, calling him the very first fan he met in cricket. His genuine support for the game and the players left a lasting impact on the cricket fraternity.
Uncle Percy’s legacy as a “legendary cheerleader” continues to be celebrated and remembered by cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
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