The BCCI has recommended MS Dhoni for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest honour for sportsperson in India.

BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said the Board has already forwarded its recommendation to the Sports Ministry.

"Yes, we have forwarded Dhoni's name for the country's highest sports award for 2007," Shetty said.

Under Dhoni, India won the World Twenty20 championship in South Africa and then won the tri-series Down Under defeating hosts Australia in the first two finals of the best of three contest.

In case Dhoni is awarded the Khel Ratna, he would be the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to get the honour. Sachin received the award in 1997-98.

President Pratibha Patil will give away the award, along with Arjuna and Dronacharya awards, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29.

Since its initiation, the list of Khel Ratna awardees also include Viswanathan Anand (chess), Geet Sethi (billiards), K Malleswari (weightlifting), Leander Paes (tennis), N Kunjarani (weightlifting), Jyotirmoyee Sikdar (athletics), Dhanraj Pillay (hockey), P Gopichand (badminton), Abhinav Bindra (shooting), Anjali Bhagwat (shooting), Anju Bobby George (athletics), Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (shooting), Pankaj Advani (billiards & snooker) and Manavjit Singh (shooting).