The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially recommended fast bowling maestro Mohammed Shami for the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Following Shami’s incredible performance in the just concluded ICC ODI World Cup 2023, he emerged as a top bowler, who led the bowling attack on the Indian team.
As per media reports, the BCCI recognised Shami’s exceptional feats on the field and made a special request to the Ministry of Sports to include his name in the list of contenders for the Arjuna Award.
Despite not being initially featured, Shami’s remarkable showcase in the World Cup forces the cricket board to advocate for his rightful recognition.
The 33-year-old pacer, who finished as the tournament’s top wicket-taker, was instrumental in India’s remarkable run in the ODI World Cup.
Shami took an incredible 24 wickets in just seven innings, demonstrating his capacity to produce memorable performances under duress.
His ability to take crucial wickets and his bowling expertise were key factors in India’s run to the World Cup 2023 final.
Shami’s incredible World Cup run was made even more impressive by the fact that earlier he was not included in even India’s playing XI for the first four games. But when he did get a chance, he took it immediately, showing incredible consistency and finishing with an amazing average of just 5.26.
Anticipation now surrounds Shami’s potential inclusion in India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The first IND vs SA Test is scheduled to begin on December 26 in Centurion, followed by the second Test in Cape Town starting on January 3.
The Ministry of Sports, responsible for overseeing sports awards in India, has established a 12-member committee to deliberate on the recipients for this year’s sports honors, including the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Retired Supreme Court Justice AM Khanwilkar heads the committee, which includes luminaries such as Dhanraj Pillay, Kamlesh Mehta, Akhil Kumar, Shuma Shirur, Anjum Chopra, Tripti Murgunde, and Farman Pasha.
The collective expertise of this esteemed panel aims to ensure the rightful acknowledgement and celebration of exceptional achievements in Indian sports.
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