Sports

Uncle Percy is 85 today

Published

4 years ago

2021/07/30

by Rex Clementine

Cheerleader Percy Abeysekara turns 85 today. In his own words, ‘two years younger than Sir Garry Sobers and fitter than Sobers.’

Percy has been around cricket grounds cheering his beloved Sri Lanka and his favourite players for over 50 years now. Percy has many high profile friends in the sport.

Former India captain Ravi Shastri once wrote, ‘Percy, don’t lose your voice. Sri Lanka needs it more than you.’

Former New Zealand captain late Martin Crowe once gave away his Man of the Match award to Percy.

Once Percy was arrested in Australia; for entering the field of play. Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist protested. ‘Don’t make this an international crisis,’ they warned. Percy has friends even in the Aussie dressing room.

Cops in Australia are hard-nosed. They apparently give too hoots about what their Prime Minister thinks when it comes to implementing the law. But the few hours that Percy spent with them made them realize that this was not an overenthusiastic cricket fan. This is someone who had seen Don Bradman, Keith Miller, Neil Harvey et al.

Percy then asked the cops whether they knew the best advice Vic Richardson, Australia’s former captain gave his grandson Ian Chappell. They said no. ‘If you ever get a chance to captain Australia, don’t do it like a Victorian.’

Now the arrest happened in the tiny city of Hobart in the small state of Tasmania. The cops actually were having a laugh that an outsider was taking a dig at a larger state. Percy knew the Aussie mentality.

He didn’t stop there. He quoted Shakespeare and Donne and the cops were overwhelmed. Not only was he let off without being charged, the cops were also seen taking pictures with Percy, an international icon.

Percy’s wit is his best friend.

Once a fan shouted. ‘Percy go home.’

Percy asked, Your home’

Once late Gamini Dissanayake asked, ‘Percy, why don’t you join the Cricket Board.’

Percy said, ‘Sir, there are three palanas I don’t like.

One is Cricket palana.

The second is deshapalana.

The third is upath palana.’

JR Jayewardene, another President of the board had also asked the same question a few years back. Percy replied him poetically. ‘Sir, I would rather be on the footboard than the Cricket Board.’

Here’s a man who has brought smiles to many cricket fans and players. We wish Uncle Percy well.

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Vijayakanth Viyaskanth added to Sri Lanka squad for tri-series

Published

6 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

Sri Lanka have added Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to their T20I squad ahead of the tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Viyaskanth is currently in Doha and is a part of Lanka ‘A’ team in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 and was to fly to Pakistan from Qatar to join the senior national team for the tri-series.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga

Tri-series schedule:

November 18: Pakistan v Zimbabwe

November 20: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

November 22: Pakistan v Sri Lanka

November 23: Pakistan v Zimbabwe

November 25: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

November 27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka

November 29: Final

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‘Heartbroken’ Alcaraz pulls out of Davis Cup Finals

Published

7 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

Carlos Alcaraz ends the year top of the rankings for the second time in his career, having become the first teenager to achieve the feat in 2022 [BBC]

Carlos Alcaraz says he is “heartbroken” after withdrawing from Spain’s Davis Cup Finals team because of injury.

World number one Alcaraz, 22, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals on Sunday, says he has been advised not to compete because of swelling in his right hamstring.

Spain face the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Bologna, Italy on Thursday.

Spaniard Alcaraz, who won the French and US Open titles this year to take his career Grand Slam tally to six, wrote on Instagram external that playing for his country was the “greatest thing there is”, adding: “I’m going home heartbroken…”

World number two Sinner – the four-time Slam winner – and team-mate Lorenzo Musetti are both missing from Italy’s team, leaving Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the world number three, as the only top-10 ranked player at the eight-team finals.

The Spanish tennis federation said Alcaraz felt “physical discomfort” in the back of his thigh during the first set of his 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 final defeat in Turin by 24-year-old Sinner.

Alcaraz travelled to Spain’s training camp on Monday but medical tests revealed “significant muscle strain with marked oedema” in his hamstring.

He secured the year end world number one ranking last week after reaching the knockout stages of the ATP Finals with three straight wins.

[BBC]

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Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League 2025 from tomorrow

Published

18 hours ago

2025/11/18

Priyan

[pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA]

For the 18th consecutive year, Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd (Prima Group Sri Lanka) has partnered with Sri Lanka Cricket to sponsor the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League (SLYL) 2025.

The sponsorship presentation was held at the auditorium of the Singhaleses Sports Club on Monday evening.

SLYL is organized under the National Pathway Program of Sri Lanka Cricket, and the tournament provides players a national-level platform to perform and elevate to the next level in a bid to reach the national stage.

The 50-over tournament consisting of five Super Provincial Teams namely, Colombo North, Colombo South, Dambulla, Galle, and Kandy, will be played across five grounds in Colombo from 19th to 28th November 2025. The semi-finals will take place on the 26th of November and the finals on the 28th of November at the Thurstan College Cricket Ground.

Sri Lanka has seen several youth players emerge through the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League and go on to represent the country as national players. Since 2007, Prima Group Sri Lanka has proudly served as the official sponsor of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League.

Speaking at the event, Sajith Gunaratne, General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries, Prima Group Sri Lanka said “The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League reflects our enduring commitment to nurturing grassroots cricket in the country. For nearly two decades, we have worked closely with Sri Lanka Cricket to create opportunities for young players to discover their potential. Observing many of them ascend through the ranks to represent the nation brings immense satisfaction”.

In a video clip aired at the launch captain of the National White Ball Team Charith Asalanka said “I had the privilege of taking part in the 2011-2012 editions of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League, and it was a great opportunity for us at the time, and I believe it will be the same for the young players participating this year,” .

Kamindu Mendis, who took part in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, noted that the tournament played a vital role in shaping his early cricketing journey.

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, recalling his memories of playing in the tournament in the 2013 edition, expressed his confidence that the tournament will continue to serve as a valuable platform for young players to showcase their skills.

The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League 2025 remains one of the most anticipated youth cricket events in the country, providing a valuable platform for young players to showcase their talent and gain recognition.