The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has backed MS Dhoni’s decision of donning the military badge on his wicket-keeping gloves.
A former Indian captain, Dhoni is an honorary lieutenant colonel in India's Parachute Regiment and decided to print their dagger badge on his gloves during India’s World Cup opener against South Africa on Wednesday.
Following the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) ordered BCCI to remove the badge as ‘it is against the regulations’, but as it seems, the latter has decided to back their former captain for the rest of the campaign.
Following a Committee of Administrators (CoA) meeting in Mumbai on Friday, chief Vinod Rai said that BCCI has sent a formal request to ICC for a clearance given that Dhoni there is no breach in regulation. Their defence is based on the fact that the paramilitary regimental dagger has 'Balidan' (sacrifice) embedded on it, while the logo on Dhoni’s gloves has nothing of sort.
This is the Para Special Forces insignia. Sources say what is seen on Dhoni’s gloves only resembles it, can’t say it’s the the real one. The special forces insignia is always in moron background and has balidan written in Devanagiri script. The badge always worn on the chest pic.twitter.com/ZR2GXO3XTN
— Abhishek Bhalla (@AbhishekBhalla7) June 7, 2019
"The BCCI had already sent a formal request to the ICC for clearance. As per ICC regulations, players can't sport any commercial, religious or military logo. There was nothing commercial or religious in this regard as we all know," Rai was quoted by a news agency.
"And it is not the paramilitary regimental dagger that is embossed in his gloves. So Dhoni is not in breach of ICC regulations," he added.
Meanwhile, the Twitteratis went into a frenzy soon after the news broke out and this is how they are reacting to it:
Indian Army has always been independent irrespective of the political party in power. We are proud of them. Lt. Col. @msdhoni has worn the Army insignia as a symbol of pride. Doesn’t hurt anyone’s sentiments, In fact it honours the brave #DhoniKeepTheGlove #WorldCup2019
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) June 7, 2019
I salute his love for the nation and soldiers!
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) June 7, 2019
I stand by @msdhoni #DhoniKeepTheGlove pic.twitter.com/NDv7eypvkk
#DhoniKeepTheGlove is one voice from the entire country. 🇮🇳 ICC better wake up!
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 7, 2019
Dear sports minister @KirenRijiju, hope you stand up for @msdhoni and 🇮🇳 #DhoniKeepTheGlove
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) June 7, 2019
Its Proved.....
— 👨💻Omkar👨💻 MSDian ❣️ forever🦇 (@omi_anpat619) June 7, 2019
If You are The Best, Then You are Going to be Questioned on anything everything at Anytime everytime.....#DhoniKeepTheGlove pic.twitter.com/lTkqCeuWUA
They were proudly Muslims on the ground.
— Abhay Chauhan 🇮🇳 (@theabhaychauhan) June 7, 2019
Dhoni must proudly be Indian on the ground.#dhonikeeptheglove pic.twitter.com/lynFUQTVma
The 3 lions on England team signify the Royal Arms an armed unit and Dhoni’s insignia signifies sacrifice of his armed forces.
— Fayak Wani (@Fayak_Wani1) June 7, 2019
Will @ICC now request England to not wear it and remove it from it’s cricket apparel?#DhoniKeepTheGlove@ICC @BCCI pic.twitter.com/bOxoL2O5Iz
Feature image courtesy:Twitter / IndiaTV
