Mohammed Shami is set to receive the Arjuna Award for his remarkable performance across all formats of cricket. The fast bowler was the star of India’s ICC World Cup 2023 campaign, leading them up to the finals albeit ultimately falling short against Australia in the finals.
Shami wasn’t included in the initial list for the Arjuna Award nominees. But, he was later added at the request of the BCCI. He took 24 wickets in seven matches at the ODI World Cup, finishing as the highest wicket taker, and is the only cricketer out of 26 athletes to receive the award this year.
Mohammed Shami to receive Arjuna Award on January 9
The Gujarat Titans bowler will receive the award on January 9, 2024 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Throughout the calendar year, he took an incredible 43 wickets in just 19 innings. And his role was influential in helping the team return to first rank across all three formats of the game.
The Arjuna Award is the second highest honour for any sporting professional in the country. And Mohammed Shami receiving the award is a well deserved recognition of his abilities, coming off the substitutes for India in their World Cup campaign to give them a run for the ages.