The entire team of groundstaff, who worked tirelessly to get the grounds in Colombo and Pallekele match-ready for the Asia Cup in the midst of a rampaging monsoon, will be rewarded with a prize money of $50,000, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah announced on Sunday.

“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,” Shah wrote on X.

“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!” added Shah.

Later, Mohammed Siraj, architect of India’s win over Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday, also donated his player-of-the-match cash prize of $5,000 to the Sri Lankan groundstaff.

“This cash prize goes to the groundsmen. They deserve it fully, this tournament wouldn’t have been possible without them,” Siraj said.

The tournament was originally supposed to be hosted by Pakistan before India’s reluctance to play there saw the ACC organise the event in a ‘Hybrid Model’ with nine games allotted to Sri Lanka.

With inputs from PTI