Can't pose like Nadal, this Shield belongs to the team, says MS Dhoni
Former ICC president David Morgan awards Indian captain the ICC Shield for being the number-one ranked side on the international ODI Championship table at the April 1, 2013 cut-off date.
- Soumitra Bose
- Updated: June 03, 2013 08:04 PM IST
Cardiff: Former International Cricket Council president David Morgan presented Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the ICC Shield in a simple ceremony at the Cardiff Wales Stadium here on Monday afternoon. India won this trophy by virtue of finishing the No. 1 team in the ICC rankings at the April 1, 2013 cut-off date. India (119 points) still retain the top spot going into the Champions Trophy starting on June 6. Australia (116) and South Africa (113) are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. (Related read)
It was a "vision only" opportunity for the handful of media, covering India's practice session ahead of Tuesday's warm-up game against Australia here at the Swalec Stadium. Dhoni was not allowed to speak but his reactions clearly reflected his mood at receiving the prestigious trophy going into an international tournament where the best eight teams in the world compete in 50-over format.
A few members of the Indian team clapped from the balcony of the players' dressing room as Dhoni received the silver shield from Morgan and a representative of Reliance, the officials sponsors of the ICC rankings. A large chunk of the team, however, was more focused on the training as Dhoni quickly completed the formalities.
Dhoni was reluctant to do a tennis-like 'celebration'. "This one belongs to the team, not me alone," he said when a couple of photographers wanted him to pose like a Rafael Nadal would do after a Grand Slam victory. "You want me to bite the shield? No way, it's too heavy and I am not doing a Rafael Nadal or a Roger Federer. That's tennis and this one is cricket. We will celebrate our style," Dhoni said before walking off with the trophy and cheque for $175,000.