BCCI recommends R Ashwin for Arjuna Award

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may have its differences with the Union sports ministry but, make no mistake, it has immense faith in the National Sports Awards. And that's why it has nominated off-spinner R Ashwin for the Arjuna Award this time.

Last year, the ministry had to extend the deadline for submission of nominees in order to accommodate cricketers. Virat Kohli eventually got the Arjuna last time. However, there's no such problem this time. The BCCI hasn't missed the bus.

Also, dna has learnt from reliable sources that like last year, the BCCI has not nominated any cricketer for the highest sports honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Two years ago, the BCCI had recommended the name of Rahul Dravid for the award. But given that 2012 was an Olympic year, silver medallist shooter Vijay Kumar got the nod.

Last year, the BCCI gad forwarded Sunil Gavaskar's name for the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement in sports, but given that the Little Master had received the Arjuna as a player, his name was not considered.

Ashwin has been one of the few success stories for India in Test cricket in recent years. The Chennai lad has been India's first-choice spinner for some time now.