Fabled Sri Lankan cricket superfan Percy Abeysekara, who is known to have followed the men’s national team since the 1979 World Cup, died at the age of 87 on Monday in Colombo.
Abeysekara, who was fondly referred by many including the Sri Lankan players as Uncle Percy, was a regular feature of home games in Sri Lanka.
Former Sri Lankan captains Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara took to their social media to pay tribute to Abeysekara.
“It is with great sadness that I heard our beloved Uncle Percy has met his maker. You were the first superfan and for all of us you will always be special,” wrote Jayasuriya.
“From my debut till my last game Uncle Percy was a constant. His contribution to the game in Sri Lanka stands equal to any of the players that have worn the shirt. His energy, his passion, knowledge and rhyme will be sorely missed,” wrote Sangakkara.
“My condolences to the family of Uncle Percy. Sri Lankan cricket’s biggest fan is no more. If Sri Lanka lost or won, He was always happy. Indian team had lot of respect towards him,” wrote Pathan.
The Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) also posted a statement on Abeysekara. “Percy Abeysekera was a bundle of energy, lighting up every moment on the field with his constant cheering. He shared a deep bond with Indian cricketers and developed a strong connect every time Team India toured Sri Lanka. His presence will be dearly missed.”
