We examine the background of Percy Abeysekera along with his age and death date, who was famous as Uncle Percy and attended the cricket matches featuring Sri Lanka for almost five decades
Sri Lanka’s beloved mascot and superfan, affectionately known as Uncle Percy, has passed away at the age of 87. Following the death of Percy, former Sri Lankan opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, expressed his condolences on social media, as did the former Sri Lankan all-rounder, Russel Arnold. Similarly, Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan took to the social media to mourn Percy’s passing while emphasizing the deep respect Indian cricketers held for him.
Sri Lanka cricket fan Uncle Percy passed away, death reason, date, real name, biography, age and family
Sri Lankan cricket's greatest supporter, Uncle Percy passed away.
– A huge loss for cricket. pic.twitter.com/K6oSwVa9N1
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 30, 2023
How Uncle Percy supported the Sri Lanka cricket team throughout the years?
87 year old Percy Abeysekera had been a constant presence at Sri Lankan cricket matches for over five decades, earning worldwide recognition during the 1996 World Cup. He was a cherished figure in Sri Lankan stadiums, and his passion extended to following Sri Lanka on their tours, especially during Test matches. In the 1980s, Martin Crowe even presented Percy with a Man of the Match trophy as a token of appreciation for his unwavering dedication to the game.
Although Percy was a loyal supporter of Sri Lanka, he didn’t hesitate to jest with his own team’s players, especially when they made fielding errors near the boundary. Percy frequently engaged in this practice to entertain the home crowd, with the spectators often participating in the banter. Additionally, Percy gained recognition for composing rhyming couplets tailored to individual players, adapting them to suit the specific match he was observing.
Why Uncle Percy wasn’t able to attend the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup?
Percy’s enthusiasm for cricket had also captured the attention of international cricketers. During India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, then-captain Virat Kohli invited him to the dressing room, recognizing his popularity among the players. In a more recent encounter, Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as the captain of the Indian cricket team, visited Percy at his home near Colombo Airport.
Additionally, Rohit’s visit was marked by a heartwarming exchange of cricket anecdotes and rhymes, with Rohit expressing his admiration for Percy’s knowledge of the game and his sporting spirit. An iconic image of Percy shaking hands with MS Dhoni during a cricket game on the field symbolizes the affection that Percy held for these cricket legends.
Percy Abeysekera had been battling illness for an extended period. Notably, in September 2023, Sri Lanka Cricket provided Rs 5 million to support his well-being and medical expenses. Since the 1979 World Cup, Percy Abeysekera had been energetically waving the national flag to support the Sri Lankan cricket team. However, he couldn’t travel to India for the 2023 World Cup due to his illness.
Percy Abeysekera, a beloved figure and iconic supporter of cricket known as Uncle Percy, passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023 after a prolonged battle with illness.
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