Sachin to attend iaf parade
NEW DElHI: Retired Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, the first sportsperson to be made honourary Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, is likely to attend the IAF Day parade on Wednesday. “He has been invited and there are indications that he will attend,” an IAF official said on the eve of the 82nd Air Force Day celebrations in Hindan near here. The iconic batsman was conferred with the IAF honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his cricketing achievements in 2010 amid much fanfare. He was the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour. The rank was conferred on Tendulkar under the provision of granting honorary rank by armed forces to eminent personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the nation. The 41-year-old Mumbaikar retired from international cricket last year in November after playing 200 Test matches.
VVS to deliver PatAudi lecture
KOlKATA: VVS laxman is all set to renew his connection with Eden Gardens as the former middle order batsman has been chosen to deliver the MAK Pataudi Memorial lecture here on October 19. The lecture will be held on the eve of the fifth and final ODI between India and the West Indies and will be part of the Cricket Association of Bengal’s 150 year celebrations, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel was quoted as saying. laxman too has confirmed the news, saying: “I was always fascinated by knowledge of Pataudi. I was a big fan and I heard stories about him from late M l Jaisimha. like me, Pataudi too had played for Hyderabad and I feel honoured to be speaking in his memory.” The Hyderabadi batsman is best known for his epic 281 in the second innings in India’s famous win against Australia in the Eden Gardens in 2001. Sunil Gavaskar was the speaker in the inaugural edition of the lecture while Anil Kumble delivered in the last edition. The lecture was originally planned for October 18, but later changed to the next day.