NEW DELHI: The Sri Lankan cricket team paid tribute to their beloved 'legendary cheerleader' Percy Abeysekera, who passed away recently at the age of 87, during their World Cup match against India on Thursday. Abeysekera, affectionately known as 'Uncle Percy,' had been a passionate supporter of Sri Lankan cricket and was an iconic figure in the cricketing world.
During the match, the Sri Lankan players wore black armbands as a mark of respect and remembrance for Uncle Percy, who was a fixture at Sri Lanka's cricket matches for several decades. He gained immense 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.