The Asia Cup has seen its share of disappointment and anguish with a lot of rain-induced breaks. Naturally even spectators who have been following the games have been left frustrated because of this. Persistent rains have been a consistent hindrance throughout the tournament, leading to several matches being cancelled, truncated, or as in the case of the India vs Paksitan Super Four fixture, being played over two days. Amidst all of this, the uncelebrated heroes, the groundsmen, have worked tirelessly to guarantee some Asia Cup action for all of us to observe.
However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has been quick to acknowledge the efforts of the groundstaff who have worked to ensure that matches in Sri Lanka had a result barring one game. The President of the ACC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jay Shah took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce a prize money of USD 50,000 for the curators and workers. He then presented the cheque to the venue manager after the summit clash in which India beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets.
"🏏🏟️ Big Shoutout to the Unsung Heroes of Cricket! 🙌 The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are proud to announce a well-deserved prize money of USD 50,000 for the dedicated curators and groundsmen at Colombo and Kandy. 🏆 Their unwavering commitment and hard work made the Asia Cup 2023 an unforgettable spectacle. From pitch perfection to lush outfields, they ensured the stage was set for thrilling cricket action. 🏏 This recognition highlights the critical role these individuals play in cricket's success. Let's celebrate and honour their yeoman services! 🎉👏 #UnsungHeroes #AsiaCup2023 @ACCMedia1 @OfficialSLC," he tweeted.
Check out his tweet here:
Talking about the match, Sri Lanka chose to bat first but were blown away by Mohammed Siraj who finished with 6 for 21. Hardik Pandya (3/3) while Jasprit Bumrah picked a solitary wicket while giving away 23 runs.