All too often ignored in favour of the big name sport stars, cricketing ground staff who kept the rain-hit Asia Cup running were promised a $50,000 shared bonus by organisers on Sunday.
Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, who returned figures of 6-21 to lead India’s rout of Sri Lanka by 10 wickets as they clinched their eighth Asia Cup title, also vowed to donate his $5,000 man of the match prize winnings to those who looked after the pitches.
The 50-over Asia Cup is a precursor to the up-coming one-day international (ODI) World Cup, and most of the matches were moved to Sri Lanka after India refused to tour Pakistan due to political tensions.
But rain played havoc and multiple matches in the six-nation tournament were delayed, and some abandoned.—AFP
