India Cricket Team ace pacer Mohammed Shami received the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at the National Sports Awards on Tuesday 9th January.
In December 2023, the Sports Ministry of India unveiled the list of recipients for the prestigious awards, and among them was Mohammed Shami, the sole cricketer among the 26 players selected to receive the Arjuna Award in 2023.
Shami earned widespread acclaim during the ODI World Cup, emerging as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with an impressive tally of 24 wickets. Despite being on the bench for the initial four matches, he made a spectacular comeback, showcasing his bowling prowess by claiming 24 wickets in the subsequent 7 matches. Shami’s stellar performance played a pivotal role in guiding India to the finals of the World Cup.
However, the ace pacer is currently grappling with an ankle injury and is yet to fully recover. Consequently, Shami was unavailable for the India tour of South Africa, and it is anticipated that he might miss the opening matches of the upcoming Test series against England (IND vs ENG).