By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Karachi: India cricket captain Rahul Dravid, three of his teammates, coach Greg Chappell and team manager Raj Singh Dungarpur were conferred rare life memberships of an elite club here Friday.

Apart from Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble were given life memberships by the posh Arabian Sea Country Club, located on the outskirts of the city, two days before the third and final Test begins here Sunday.

The club's chief executive Arif Ali Khan Abbasi, also a former CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), presented the membership letters and documents to the players and officials.

"We are honoured to make them life members of the club," said Abbasi, a powerful cricket official who traces his roots to Lucknow in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

On the occasion, the club also signed a contract with Mumbai's Cricket Club of India on a reciprocity basis. Dungarpur, who is the Mumbai club's president, and
Abbasi signed the documents in front of a large posse of Indian and Pakistani media that was invited to the function.

Chappell made the best use of the visit to the club, playing a round of golf and having some beer. As a courtesy, the club waived off the bills, said an official.

Chappell, former Australia captain, also renewed bonds with the legendary Mohammed brothers - Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq, all former Test players. Zaheer Abbas recalled old times and shared a few jokes.

Chappell had played against Zaheer and Mushtaq.

"We last met 12 years ago during the 1992 World Cup in Australia when Greg was doing the commentary," Mushtaq told IANS.

"We recalled a few incidents and overall it was a nice meeting," said the Birmingham-based Mushtaq, who happened to be at the club to attend a wedding in his family.

Chappell recalled he had even bowled his gentle leg-spinners to Mushtaq in Test cricket. "But he was a better leg-spinner than me," Chappell said as Mushtaq looked on.

Chappell's wife accompanied him to the club. Zaheer seemed to know her well as they were seen talking like old acquaintances.

The families of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, including their children, too accompanied them to the club and enjoyed themselves by swimming in the pool.

The Indian team will have its first practice session at the National Stadium here Saturday.