Cricket fans worldwide loved “Uncle Percy,” the seasoned captain of the Sri Lanka cheerleading squad Percy Abeysekera. He passed away. The well-known cheerleader from Sri Lanka turned 87 in August of this year, but he has reportedly been feeling under the weather lately. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) gave Percy Abeysekera a donation of Rs 50 lakh in September to help with his welfare and upkeep of his health.
One of the earliest known Sri Lankan cricket supporters is Uncle Percy. He has flown the Sri Lankan flag to show support for his team since the 1979 World Cup.
Percy Abeysekera, the largest cricket fan in Sri Lanka, passed away on Monday in Colombo at the age of 87. He was known as “Uncle Percy” in Sri Lanka and had been unwell for a few months before succumbing to issues associated with aging. He made a lasting impression on the cricket world with his love and support for the sport.
Since the 1979 ODI World Cup in the West Indies, Percy has been a devotee of Sri Lanka. Percy previously remarked in an interview, “I used to be in the stadium waving the Sri Lankan flag and cheering for the kids before I could walk.”
Mohan De Silva, the secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), paid Percy a visit and gave him a cheque for Rs 1.3 million to support his health and well-being. The captain of India, Rohit Sharma, also paid a visit to Percy’s uncle at his home during the 2023 Asian Cup in Colombo.
De Silva said in a statement: “Percy has made an immeasurable contribution to Sri Lankan cricket as a cheerleader, he has brought great strength to the players and the sport as a whole, and now it is our turn to give back and look after him. Blessed.” September.
The Sri Lanka Cricket fraternity confirmed the death of Uncle Percy on social media. “I was so saddened to hear that our beloved Uncle Percy met his maker. You were the first super fan and you will always be special to us all, RIP,” former SL captain Sanath Jayasuriya tweeted.