BCCI set to nominate Yuvraj Singh for Arjuna award, Kohli also in race

Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh is set to be nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Arjuna award as the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has revised the deadline in order to accommodate cricketers, says a report in The Indian Express, adding that the BCCI hadn’t nominated a player before the April 30 deadline expired and had cited lack of communication from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. On its part the ministry had stated that the BCCI had been informed about the deadline.

However, on Thursday, the BCCI was informed that the sports ministry had made an exception and the deadline was extended to July 20. BCCI’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty confirmed to The Indian Express that he received a phone call from Mukul Chatterjee, joint secretary in the sports ministry, on Thursday afternoon about the extended deadline.  “We received a call in the afternoon and we are thankful to the sports ministry for their gesture. The joint secretary Chatterjee personally called to inform us about this and it is indeed good news. We will submit our nominations before the deadline,” Shetty said. The name of Virat Kohli is also being discussed for the nomination.

Yuvraj played a crucial role in India’s World Cup triumph at home last year when he made 362 runs and took 15 wickets. He was declared the player of the tournament. Yuvraj who is recuperating after being cured of germ-cell cancer, is trying to make a comeback to the Indian team.

Meanwhile a report in Hindustan Times says that the sports ministry has reached out to the BCCI to douse row over no cricketer being nominated for the Arjuna Awards this year. “The sports ministry on Thursday announced that the last date for filing nominations for the Awards would be extended to July 20. The ministry's decision will allow the BCCI to nominate its cricketers. "The joint secretary of ministry of sports Mukul Chatterjee called up to inform that the last date for filing the Arjuna award nomination. After the conversation, the BCCI has also received a fax stating the same from the ministry," said a senior BCCI official. As of now, India vice-captain Virat Kohli is the front-runner.,” says the report.