Sachin Tendulkar honoured with the Order of Australia membership
Tendulkar becomes the first Indian cricketer and the fourth non-Australian cricketer to be made the member of the Order of Australia. Previously, West Indies’ legendary cricketers Brian Lara, Clive Lloyds and Sir Garfield Sobers have been honoured with it.
“Thanks to the Australian government for this honor. Proud moment!!!” the 39-year-old cricketing icon from Mumbai said on his official Facebook page.
Although there have been several calls for Tendulkar, the “little master” to retire after his out-of-form performances, 2012 has been special for Tendulkar for the several milestones he achieved.
He scored his much awaited 100th international hundred in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh this year becoming the first cricketer to achieve this feat.
He also took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha this year, becoming the first active sportsman in India to do so.
Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 15,000 runs in Test Cricket and has crossed 30,000 runs in international cricket. He also holds the world record for playing highest number of ODI and Test matches.
While the ceremony took place this week in Australia, the Oz Prime Minister Julia Gillard had announced that the Indian cricketing champion will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia when she was on her first visit to India as PM in October.
Tendulkar is the second Indian to be honoured with this. In 2006, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations.
