An emphatic, loud and passionate supporter is about to hit Australia and New Zealand’s shores for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. And he’s not a part of the Barmy Army.
Gayan Senanayaka is the superfan of the Sri Lanka cricket team, attending over 200 games at home and abroad. Now, following their successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign in 2014, it’s no surprise that Gayan is excited about seeing his Sri Lankan team in action on the world stage again.
“I hope to see all the Sri Lanka games, in New Zealand and Australia” says Gayan joyfully, in particular the tournament opener between his beloved Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Christchurch.
His cricket fanaticism came to life when, as a 17-year-old, Gayan watched Sri Lanka secure the 1996 World Cup. As a tournament on home-soil, jointly hosted with India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka subsequently ushered in a cricketing wave that swept the nation, especially Gayan.
“Sri Lankan people became much more involved,” Gayan explains, as the victory kick-started things for Sri Lankan cricket, “the players started to get recognised.”
Are you as excited about #cwc15 as these @OfficialSLC fans? Tickets selling fast, get yours at www.cricketw… https://t.co/HnKP6LflOy
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 29, 2015
Off the field, Gayan has too gained recognition for his chanting prowess. However, being in charge of so many cricket-mad supporters and getting them to make noise is no simple task. It takes a long lasting passion for the game and your country, something Gayan expresses deeply.
“I come to the ground and I talk to my crowd, I give them the music, the dancing and the cheering.”
Gayan has brought excitement to the Sri Lankan crowds for years, and he hopes to do so long into the future still. More than anything, though, Gayan wants to cheer Sri Lanka all the way to their third consecutive World Cup final.
“C’mon Sri Lanka!”
