Mohammed Shami’s outstanding performance during the 2023 World Cup has put him in the running for the Arjun Award. The selection committee has suggested the India pacer for this year’s coveted Arjuna award after he emerged as the greatest wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023 with 24 wickets, according to ANI news agency on Wednesday.
Sources claim that since Shami’s name had not previously appeared on the list, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) submitted a special request to the Sports Ministry. The Arjuna Award is the second-highest accolade in sports.
Mohammed Shami's name has been recommended for Arjun Award after his performance in World Cup 2023. [ANI] pic.twitter.com/aC67RaoMFr
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 13, 2023
All year long, the 33-year-old was great for the Men in Blue. In the World Cup, the right-arm pacer carried on with his incredible performance. His incredible 5/18 against Sri Lanka at Wankhede was one of his campaign’s highlights. With 358 runs to chase, Sri Lanka was already struggling, but Shami’s appearance after the opening Powerplay was fatal. They lost their middle and lower order to him in five overs.
Considering that he didn’t even play for the squad when the competition started, Shami was incredibly outstanding as the tournament’s top wicket-taker.
Shami became a star bowler after missing his team’s first four matches, taking 24 wickets at an average of just 10.71. With Shami’s returns coming in ten fewer matches than any of the players above him on the list, only four players in the history of the men’s game—Lasith Malinga (56), Mitchell Starc (65), Muttiah Muralitharan (68), and Glenn McGrath (71)—have taken more wickets in the ODI Cricket World Cups than Shami (55).
