BCCI says it recommended Dhoni for Khel Ratna well before deadline

New Delhi, Jul 25 (UNI) Dismissing reports of a delay in recommending Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the country's highest sports award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) said the application was sent well before the deadline.

''The BCCI had sent the following completed applications for the Government awards by Speed Post from the Mumbai office on 27th May 2008,'' BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

The last date for submission of the forms, however, was on May 31.

BCCI has recommended Dhoni for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, former captain Chandu Borde for the Dhyan Chand award and veteran coach V S Patil for the Dronacharya award.

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