Sri Lanka Team Wears Black Armband in Memory of “Uncle Percy”

Mumbai: During their World Cup match against India on Thursday, the Sri Lankan cricket team wore black armbands in memory of their ‘legendary cheerleader’ and ‘superfan’ Percy Abeysekera , who is popularly known as “Uncle Percy”. Abeysekera passed away recently at the age of 87.

‘Uncle Percy’ was present at almost all the Sri Lanka matches from the 1979 World Cup. He was famous for waving a large Sri Lankan flag during the matches. He also patted the players on their backs and even accompanied them to and from the dressing room.

“Sri Lanka players will wear black armbands during today’s game vs India to pay tribute to the late Percy Abeysekera, the legendary cheerleader,” said an official statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

“Abeysekera was an integral part of the game of cricket in Sri Lanka and did play 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 etched forever among cricket lovers,” the statement added.