India pacer Jasprit Bumrah will receive the prestigious Polly Umrigar award for his magnificent performances in international cricket during the 2018-19 season, it was announced by the BCCI; he'll be honoured in Mumbai during the board's annual award function on Sunday (January 12).
In the phase accounted for, Bumrah played 12 Tests, all overseas in South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies, and took 62 wickets at an average of 19.2 including as many as five five-wicket hauls.
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He was also India's best bowler during the 50-over World Cup in UK, taking 18 wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of 4.42 runs per over.
Bumrah will receive the Polly Umrigar award in the Men's category while leg-spinner Poonam Yadav will be honoured as the best international cricketer in the female version. Poonam, a fantastic servant of Indian cricket, also bagged the Arjuna award recently.
The board is also set to reward former India skippers Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra with the CK Nayudu lifetime achievement award and the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women, respectively.
"The BCCI Awards is our way of recognising the finest on-field performances right from the age group to senior level and also honour our legends," board president Sourav Ganguly said in a media release.
"It will be a special evening in Mumbai as we will also have the 7th MAK Pataudi lecture and I am delighted to inform that it will be Virender Sehwag, who will address the gathering."
Jay Shah, the board secretary, said: "The BCCI Awards are an important feature in India's cricketing calendar, a melange of aspiration and inspiration."
"We wanted to make Naman bigger and better and have introduced four new categories - highest run-getter and wicket-takers in WODIs and best international debut men and women - from this year. A total of 25 awards will be presented."
(Inputs from PTI)
