New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) may grant the honorary rank of group captain to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in recognition of the laurels he has brought to the country, an official said Wednesday.

"The IAF has given a proposal to the defence ministry for according the honorary rank of group captain to Sachin Tenduklar. There is no final decision taken on it as of now," the official said.

The 37-year-old right hand batsman has played 166 Test matches, scoring more than 13,400 runs -- the highest by any cricketer -- and 47 Test hundreds.

In his 21-year cricketing career, the little master, as he is popularly known, has played 442 One-Day International matches, scoring 17,598 runs, inclusive of 46 tons.

Earlier this year, he became the first cricketer to score a double-century in a one-dayer.

In the past, the IAF had accorded the honorary rank of air commodore to industrialist Vijaypath Singhania after he won the gold medal in the 24-day, 34,000 km Federation Aeronautique Internationale air race in 1994.