India’s star pacer Mohammad Shami is set to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award for his incredible performance in 2023.
Arjuna Award, India's second-highest sporting honour, is bestowed upon athletes who consistently exhibit exceptional skills, sportsmanship, and dedication to their respective sports.
While Shami was brilliant throughout the year, he proved to be a different beast altogether in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He finished the showpiece tournament as the leading wicket-taker, taking 24 wickets from seven matches at an incredible average of 10.70 with three five-wicket hauls.
Overall, the right-arm quick claimed 43 wickets in 19 ODIs and picked up 13 wickets from four Tests last year.
The awards will be conferred on the athletes by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.
Ahead of the ceremony, Shami spoke to news agency ANI and said winning the Arjuna Award is like a dream come true.
“This award is a dream. An entire lifetime passes by and people are not able to win this award. It’s a matter of great joy and I’m feeling proud.
“A lot of individuals remain mere spectators as they watch others win these awards throughout their life. It’s a dream that remains unfulfilled for many,” Shami stated.
Shami has been out of action ever since India’s World Cup 2023 final loss to Australia on November 19. He was initially named in the Test squad for the recently held South Africa tour but couldn’t travel to the Rainbow Nation due to an ankle injury.
According to a report, the veteran fast bowler is unlikely to feature in the first two matches of the upcoming five-Test series against England, slated to get underway on January 25 in Hyderabad.
“It’s part of the game, being injured or not and taking one’s time to return to action. What matter’s the most however, is appreciating the love that fans shower on players. Will strive to return to the ground as quickly as possible,” he added.
When asked about his preparations for the England series, Shami said: “I don’t think of coming up with anything new. I always think that if I’m fit, then results will automatically follow. I try to focus on carrying out the responsibilities assigned to me by the team.”
“The biggest advantage that we have against a big team like England is that we’re playing in home conditions. It’s important that we enter the series with the right mindset and the right fitness and remain positive,” he further remarked.
