Indian Pacer Mohammed Shami Recommended For Arjuna Award Honour

image-lq3nlmwxMohammed Shami | Source: X.com

In a positive development for Indian cricket, the selection committee has proposed the name of Mohammed Shami, the adept Indian pacer, for the coveted Arjuna Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.  

Sources reveal that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) submitted a special request to the Sports Ministry after Mohammed Shami was initially overlooked, underscoring the importance of the Arjuna Award as the second-highest honour in the sporting realm. 

Mohammed Shami, initially benched for the first four matches of India's World Cup 2023 campaign, seized the opportunity to join the playing 11 after Hardik Pandya's injury against Bangladesh, delivering a sensational performance for Team India. 

The Bengal pacer finished as the leading wicket-taker of the 2023 Cricket World Cup with 24 scalps from merely seven innings. His best performance in the marquee event came against Sri Lanka, where he claimed a five-wicket haul at Wankhede Stadium. 

Notably, Shami's remarkable tally of 55 wickets in the Cricket World Cup places him among the elite, with only Lasith Malinga, Mitchell Starc, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Glenn McGrath having taken more wickets in the history of the prestigious tournament. 

Shami will next be seen in action for India in their upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The first Test will be a Boxing Day face-off on December 26 in Centurion, and the second will be played on January 3 in Cape Town.