London: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the BCCI's request to reconsider its objection to MS Dhoni's gloves on which the wicket keeper had sported an army crest during India's World Cup opener against South Africa. The ICC had earlier "requested the BCCI" to ask Dhoni to remove the insignia from the gloves, citing rules which forbid display of messages "which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes."
The BCCI had intervened in the matter on Dhoni’s behalf after there was social media criticism of the ICC's objections. It wrote to the ICC seeking permission to allow Dhoni to wear those gloves in India's next match against Australia at The Oval. However, that request has been turned down by the ICC. Dhoni is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army and dagger is part of their emblem. The BCCI defence was that the para-regimental dagger logo has word ''Balidan'' (sacrifice) inscribed on it, which is not the case with the logo sported by Dhoni. As the controversy played itself out on national TV, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju declared that Dhoni's identity is the country's identity, the army's identity and it is not politics. At the same time, he clarified that the government does not meddle with affairs of sports bodies. Even as the ICC and the BCCI engaged in shadow boxing, news surfaced that the Pakistan team wanted to celebrate India's wickets 'differently' when the two teams meet in Manchester on June 16.
However, the PCB has told its players to stick to cricket and turned down a request from Sarfaraz Ahmed and his team to celebrate India's wickets 'differently.' It will be recalled that the Men in Blue wore army caps during an ODI against Australia in March; this had happened immediately after the Pulwama massacre. It is understood that the Pakistan team had some similar ‘action plan’ in mind. The controversy elicited sharp reactions from Indian fans on social media, mostly backing the ‘best finisher in the world.’"Those having a problem with Dhoni's gloves stop watching/playing cricket," wrote a user on twitter.
A fan even tried to counter the ICC by demanding that England too should remove three lions from their jerseys. Another fan asked ICC to "focus" on their umpiring rather than "unnecessary rules". A Pakistan Minister muddied the waters further by hitting out at Dhoni and reminding him that he was in England for cricket, not Mahabharata. Finally, it was Sunil Gavaskar who had the last word. He has said if Dhoni was given permission to continue wearing gloves with the army crest on them, then players from other countries might want to do something similar. "Rules are there for a reason and they are meant to be followed. That's why they are there,’’ he has reasoned.
