Dhoni to spend time with soldiers in Kashmir

New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, conferred the honorary lieutenant colonel rank by the army, will perform his military duties for a week beginning Saturday when he travels to Jammu and Kashmir, including Siachen base camp, to meet Indian Army troops.

Dhoni, who is enjoying a rare month-and-half break from international cricket, will travel to Jammu, Rajouri, Uri, Srinagar and Leh, apart from visiting the base camp of Siachen glacier, the world's highest altitude battlefield, in his role as the army's brand ambassador, officers at the Indian Army Headquarters told IANS here Friday.

"There are lots of prior commitments. I have to do some work with the 'Territorial Army' and 'Save the Tiger' campaign," Dhoni told reporters here Thursday.

Dhoni, who got commissioned as a Parachute Regiment's Territorial Army officer last year, will stay with the soldiers in their bunkers and camps during the tour till June 7.

Besides Dhoni, the army had also inducted another former India cricket captain, Kapil Dev, Malayalam movie star Mohan Lal and Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra as honorary lieutenant colonels in the Territorial Army to help inspire the country's youths to join the armed forces for a career.