BCCI recommends Dravid for Padma Bhushan

New Delhi: BCCI is expected to recommended Rahul Dravid's name for the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, according to sources. The Indian board has also reportedly decided to recommend the name of opener Gautam Gambhir for the Padma Shri.

According to a BCCI source, president N Srinivasan and secretary Sanjay Jagdale will discuss the recommendations before forwarding the names to the government. "Dravid and Gambhir's names were discussed earlier and the president and secretary were to take a final call in this regard," a BCCI official said on Monday.

Rahul Dravid retired in March 2012 after serving Indian cricket for 16 years, while Gautam Gambhir has cemented his position in the Indian team as an opening partner with Virender Sehwag in all three forms of the game.

The board has also reportedly decided to recommend the name of opener Gautam Gambhir for the Padma Shri.

Nine cricketers have received the Padma Bhushan, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Vinoo Mankad and Lala Amarnath. Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer who has been bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award.

With inputs from PTI

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