Team India paceman Mohammed Shami has been shortlisted among the list of sportspersons to receive the Arjuna Award. The star pacer made his India debut in 2013 and with his consistent performances over the years, he has now become a force to reckon with across formats.
Shami last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, as the leading wicket-taker. The 33-year-old claimed 24 wickets in 7 matches in the showpiece event where India ended up as runner-up. He failed to make it to the XI in the first four matches but later when Hardik Pandya got injured he got the chance to play against New Zealand in the league stage and he made an instant impact with a five-fer.
He was one of the biggest reasons behind India’s sustained dominance for 10 straight games in the showpiece before losing the final to Australia.
The Indian cricketer’s name is on the list of 26 sportspersons who will receive the Arjuna Award.
The awards will be conferred on the athletes by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9.
Meanwhile, Shami will miss the Test series against South Africa as he has not been cleared by the BCCI’s medical team and hence, has been ruled out of the 2-match Test series, starting December 26. The participation of Shami was subject to fitness but the Indian cricket board has confirmed that the pacer couldn’t retain his fitness on time
Earlier, a report on PTI suggested that Shami had developed an ankle condition, however, there is no specific information about the injury or how he got it.
The report stated that Shami consulted a sports orthopaedic to diagnose his ankle condition in Mumbai.
“It is not exactly an on-field injury. It is an ankle condition that has developed. Shami came to Mumbai to consult the doctors. He will also go to NCA for rehab and recuperation work.
“The national selectors wouldn’t have selected him had there not been a chance of him getting fit in time for the Boxing Day Test,” a BCCI source, privy to the development, told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
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