Rahane gets CCI's honorary membership; Sania next in line

Cricket Club of India (CCI) today conferred honorary life membership on India's middle-order batting mainstay Ajinkya Rahane here.
Rahane and his wife were given membership cards for utilising all facilities of the club by CCI President Kekoo Nicholson at a brief ceremony at the 82-year-old private institution's premises in South Mumbai this evening.
Thanking CCI and its Executive Committee for giving him the honour, the 27-year-old said it had been his wish to become a member of the club since he had attended a coaching camp there as a budding cricketer.
"I wished to become a member of this club ever since I attended a coaching camp here. When I had entered the club for the first time I experienced a very positive vibe. This is the place where India attained the no. 1 Test ranking (during a Test against Sri Lanka in 2010-11). I am really humbled," said the Mumbai-born Rahane.

On Sunday, CCI is conferring an honorary life membership on India's top woman tennis professional Sania Mirza after her recent win of the US women's doubles title with "Swiss Miss" Martina Hingis.
"We have invited (Pakistan cricketer) Shoiab Malik (Saina's husband) for the function," said a CCI member.