Army seeks dates from Dhoni, Bindra for conferring Lt Col rank

The Army has asked Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra to make themselves available at the "earliest possible date" so that they could be conferred with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the force.

"We are looking forward to conduct the piping of both the gentlemen this month only. We have requested them to be present for this ceremony at earliest possible date," a Territorial Army official said on Tuesday.

Following the decision by the Territorial Army to grant honorary commissions to both sportsmen, Dhoni attended its Raising Day function here on October 9.

"He interacted with Army Chief General V K Singh while attending the Raising Day function and expressed his happiness for being selected for the coveted rank of a Lt. Colonel in the Territorial Army," the official said.

Dhoni, who captained the Indian team to victory in the recently held ICC World Cup and the 2007 T-20 World Cup, has been selected for the honorary commission for his performance in the game.

Bindra would be donning the military uniform for his rare achievement of being the only Indian ever to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

As honorary Lt. Colonels, the two athletes would be able to wear the Olive Green uniform on officials occasions, ceremonial functions and training activities conducted by the Territorial Army.

Earlier, the force had granted the honorary ranks of Lt. Col. to cricketer Kapil Dev and south Indian actor Mohan Lal.