Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been recommended for the Arjuna Award by the BCCI for his outstanding performance in the ODI World Cup 2023. The 33-year-old, who played a crucial role in India’s journey to the final where they finished as runners-up to Australia, was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 24 wickets in just seven matches. Sources revealed that the BCCI made a special request to the Sports Ministry to include Shami’s name for the Arjuna Award, as he was initially not part of the list. Shami’s remarkable contribution came after sitting out the first four games, finishing the World Cup with an average of just 5.26.
The BCCI’s recommendation comes ahead of India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, where Shami is likely to feature. The first Test is scheduled as a boxing day match starting on December 26 in Centurion, followed by the second game in Cape Town beginning on January 3. The Sports Ministry has constituted a 12-member committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice AM Khanwilkar, to decide this year’s sports awards, including the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and the Arjuna Award. The committee includes six former international athletes, such as Dhanraj Pillay, Kamlesh Mehta, Akhil Kumar, Shuma Shirur, Anjum Chopra, and Tripti Murgunde, among others.
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