Shahnawaz Dahani gifts a jersey to a Sri Lanka fan. (Twitter./Pakistan Cricket)Pakistan’s Shahnawaz Dahani sought out a Sri Lankan fan in the crowd ahead of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Asia Cup final to gift him his jersey. Gayan Manjula Senanayake is the hunch-backed cricket fan famous all around the world, and was also present for Virat Kohli’s wedding reception in Mumbai.
A wonderful moment before the match ✨@ShahnawazDahani gives his jersey to a 🇱🇰 fan 👏#AsiaCup2022 | #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/4RlIflx8OM
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 11, 2022
A few days earlier, after India beat Pakistan in their first game of Asia Cup, Senanayake, the Sri Lankan fan, met with Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and posted a photo from the meeting.
A Srilankan fan Gayan Senanayake with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.#RohitSharma #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/7E4xapWsxu
— Rohit Sharma Fan Club (@HITMAN_Empire) August 29, 2022
When he was at Kohli’s wedding reception in Mumbai, he had spoken about how he knew the former India captain. Turns out they had first met in the U-19 world cup in Malaysia, in the tournament when Kohli first burst into public imagination.
Srilankan big cricket fan Gayan Senanayake at the Virat Kohli’s wedding reception in Mumbai. Gayan says his best friend is Kohli. #Virushka #Cricket #Respect #Lka pic.twitter.com/gmcoVgA2Rn
— Manjula Basnayake (@BasnayakeM) December 26, 2017
“I met him at 2007 under 19 world cup in Malaysia before he came to Sri Lanka. And every time he came we stayed in touch,’ he had said then. “I was the only fan to attend Virat’s reception. I felt on top of the world. Virat is a great human being and this gesture was very touching since his reception was only for his close friends, teammates and family members. He took a selfie with me. He then introduced me to his wife Anushka Sharma. He also danced with me. These moments will stay with me forever,” he had told reporters then.
In 2019, in an event in Manchester England, Senanayake won the “gold” medal, voted in the global sports fan awards ceremony.
At the Asia Cup, the CEO of Sharjah Cricket Khalaf Bukhatir greeted Senanayake at the stadium.
Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO – Sharjah Cricket greets Sri Lankan fan Gayan Senanayake during the first super 4’s match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. #Sharjah #SharjahCricket #Cricket #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/V6hEAf19fe
— Sharjah Cricket Stadium (@sharjahstadium) September 4, 2022
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