Published: Nov 06, 2012, 02:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 06, 2012, 02:55 PM (IST)
Sachin Tendulkar will become only the second Indian after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to get the Order of Australia © Getty Images
Mumbai: Nov 6, 2012
Master Blaster batsman Sachin Tendulkar is set to be honoured with the Order of Australia on Tuesday in Mumbai by Australia’s Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean.
Earlier, the Australian Prime Minister Julian Gillard, during her visit to India in October had announced that the Indian cricketer will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians.
She said that Tendulkar was an iconic cricketer and is a revered figure even in Australia.
She was quoted by NDTV as saying, “Cricket is of course a very great bond between Australia and India. We are both cricket mad nations.
“So, I am also very pleased that we are going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the “Order of Australia”. This a very special honour very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national.”
The decision, however, was later criticised by many. Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden said the Order of Australia should be exclusive to his countrymen only.
He said, “Now, if Sachin was living in Australia — give him the Prime Minister’s gong I reckon — but the reality of it is he’s living in India.”
Tendulkar will become only the second Indian after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to get the Order of Australia.
