Arun Sharma (Punjab cricketer)

Arun Sharma
Personal information
Full name
Arun Kumar Sharma
Born(1958-04-21)21 April 1958
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Died6 October 2023(2023-10-06) (aged 65)
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1978/79–1993/94Punjab
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 73
Runs scored 1,533
Batting average 21.29
100s/50s 1/7
Top score 107
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 167/37
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 14 October 2017

Arun Kumar Sharma (21 April 1958 – 6 October 2023) was an Indian former first-class cricketer who played for Punjab. He worked as a cricket coach, selector and administrator after his playing career.

Career

A wicket-keeper, Sharma made his first-class debut at the age of 20 for India Under-22s against the touring West Indies team in November 1978. He played for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy for the first time the following month, starting a 16-season run as the team's first-choice wicket-keeper.[1] He was part of the Punjab team that lifted the 1992–93 Ranji Trophy, effecting seven dismissals in the final against Maharashtra.[2] Sharma appeared in a total of 73 first-class matches and effected over 200 dismissals.[3]

Sharma continued to be associated with the sport after his playing career. He worked as a selector for the India under-19 team.[4] He also worked as the head coach of the Punjab senior side for several years until the appointment of Ajay Ratra in 2017 for that position.[5] In 2017, the Punjab Cricket Association selected Sharma as its joint secretary.[6]

References

  1. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Arun Sharma". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  2. ^ Karhadkar, Amol (28 January 2014). "'One of the ends was a green top, the other a dustbowl'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Arun Sharma". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  4. ^ Gupta, Shalini (2 February 2015). "With 1,000 runs in 7 matches, 15-yr-old helps Punjab lift U-16 trophy". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  5. ^ Kanthwal, Gaurav (24 September 2017). "Gupta elected PCA prez". The Tribune India. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  6. ^ Sharma, Nitin (25 September 2017). "Industrialist Rajinder Gupta elected Punjab Cricket Association chief". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 October 2017.