How a forgotten Man of the Series award in West Indies denied R Ashwin a world record | Cricket News
R Ashwin has been denied a world record with respect to ‘Man of the Series’ awards because of an adminration gaffe in a series in West Indies last year. On Tuesday, as India defeated Bangladesh at Kanpur to clinch a 2-0 series win, Ashwin was adjudged the Man of the Series for the 11th time in his career that put him on level with Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan.
However, the award that Ashwin received on Tuesday would have helped him overtake Muralitharan’s record if he was handed one during the West Indies tour last year. In the two-match Test series that India won 1-0, Ashwin was the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets and also scored 56 in the long innings he batted. And he was in contention to claim the Man of the Series award.
However, during the presentation ceremony that took place at the conclusion of the second Test at Port of Spain, the award wasn’t handed out.
The Indian Express reached out to Cricket West Indies (CWI) for a comment, who pointed out to an Indian agency that handled the sponsorship. But when contacted, the said Indian agency said they only looked after the commercial aspects for the series and Man of the Series came under the cricket operations of CWI.
Man of the series awards are usually given in any series that involves two or more matches. But it is not certain why it was overlooked in that particular series. It is understood that even if the award was forgotten during the presentation ceremony, it was expected to be handed over to the Indian team later. But as of now, there hasn’t been any development.
While Ashwin still has an opportunity to overtake Muralitharan, he would have already claimed the world record at Kanpur. But despite going level with Muralitharan, it is Ashwin who sits on the top of the l as he has taken just 42 series to bag the 11 Man of the Series awards. Muralitharan’s 11 came in a total of 61 series in an 18-year career.
