Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will now play the new role of a parliamentarian with President Pratibha Patil Thursday approving his nomination to the Rajya Sabha, along with that of renowned actor Rekha and businesswoman Anu Aga.

"The president has approved the nomination of Sachin Tendulkar, Rekha and Anu Aga to the Rajya Sabha," Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said.The nomination of the three eminent personalities was approved by the president under rules that allow the nomination of 12 members to the upper house.

Tendulkar, who turned 39 Tuesday, had last month become the first batsman in cricket history to complete 100 international centuries. He scored his much awaited 100th international century in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in March.

Acclaimed in the cricketing world for his batting prowess, his exploits in the game have brought laurels to the country.The approval of Tendulkar's Rajya Sabha nomination came on a day he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

Congress leaders said Gandhi was keen to greet the cricketer on his feat of scoring 100 international centuries. Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha came as a surprise as many of his admirers have been wanting him to be given Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.He is the first active cricketer to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.