Delhi: India's one-day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday chosen for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, country's highest honour for a sportsperson.

An expert committee, chaired by Milkha Singh, today met here to discuss the nominees and they decided to confer the award on Dhoni for leading India to the Twenty20 World Cup triumph making him only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to get the honour.

Sources, however, said that an official announcement would follow only after August 20. Meanwhile, BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty hailed the decision.

"On two occasions, we felt let down when Rahul Dravid didn't get Khel Ratna and Yuvraj (Singh) was denied Arjuna. Dravid was in good form, we had won 16 ODIs and the team was on a high still he did not get the award.

"Yuvraj too was unlucky not to get Arjuna after two years of consistent performance. We are happy Dhoni got it," he said.

Shetty said what impressed him most about Dhoni was the way he conducted himself. "What I like most about Mahi, apart from his cricket, is the way he leads. He is a cool customer and never gets agitated. I'm also impressed by his clarity of thought. He speaks his mind even if it may not be seen in the right sense," he added.