Shikhar Dhawan and Smriti Mandhana’s name proposed for Arjuna award
Debasis Sen, Kolkata: All rounder Hardik Pandya and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has been named in the ICC World XI which will play a charity match against the West Indies at Lord’s on 31 May. Confirming the news BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhury said, “The names of Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik has been sent to ICC for the match.”
The match is being organised to raise funds for stadia in the Caribbean which were damaged due to hurricanes last year.
England T20 captain Eoin Morgan will lead the World XI side against the reigning World Twenty 20 champions. The Caribbean’s will be led by Carlos Brathwaite and the side includes other top names like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree and Andre Russell.
All proceeds going towards rebuilding and renovating five major venues as well as other community cricket facilities that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The venues that will benefit include the Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica, the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in the British Virgin Islands and the Carib Lumber Ball Park in St. Maarten.
Meanwhile, the names of India men’s and women’s team openers Shikhar Dhawan and Smriti Mandhana have been nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the prestigious Arjuna award. Both their names has been sent to the Government.
Dhawan is currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad and has been a consistent performer across all three formats for India.
Mandhana, meanwhile helped India reach the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup last year in England.