BCCI nominates Gambhir, Jhulan for Arjuna Award

The Indian Cricket Board on Wnesday nominated opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and women's team captain Jhulan Goswami for the prestigious Arjuna Award.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took the decision at its working committee meeting at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium.

Delhi batsman Gambhir has been in terrific form in the last one year and has scored 1,579 Test runs at an average of 75.19. In the ODIs he has scored 1,494 runs at 46.38. Gambhir played his most crucial innings at Napier in New Zealand where he hit a match saving 137 in the second Test that helped Indian retain their 1-0 lead.

Jhulan, who was the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Woman Player of the Year in 2007, is the third highest wicket-taker in ODI and led India to third place in the World Cup.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar, while addressing the press here, dodged questions on Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh missing the Padma Awards.

"We don't want to get into that matter," Manohar said.

Dhoni and Harbhajan skipped the awards ceremony despite being in the country creating a huge uproar.

It also triggered the Sports Ministry into coming out with a directive that all sportspersons, who fail to turn up for such awards should inform the ministry in advance failing which they can be stripped of the award.