The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday denied MS Dhoni permission to wear his Army insignia gloves in the World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow Dhoni to have the dagger logo on his wicket-keeping gloves.
ICC’s official statement read “The regulations for ICC events do not permit any individual message or logo to be displayed on any items of clothing or equipment. In addition to this, the logo also breaches the regulations in relation to what is permitted on wicket keeper gloves”
The Army insignia, or the “Balidaan badge”, was spotted when MS Dhoni affected a stumping to help India pick up a wicket in the 40th over of the South African innings in India’s World Cup opener on Wednesday (June 5).
Dhoni was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Para Special Forces regiment some eight years ago and also underwent training with the forces in 2015.
The ICC rule which allows only two manufacturer identifications at the back of each glove was challenged when Dhoni had the Army insignia symbol on his wicket keeping gloves.
What is this ICC Rule
Section G1 under Clothing and Equipment category of the ICC rules states “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes. The ICC shall have the final say in determining whether any such message is approved. For the avoidance of doubt, where a message is approved by the player or team official’s board but subsequently disapproved by the ICC’s Cricket Operations Department, the player or team official shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in international matches.”
It is being speculated that Dhoni will continue to wear the same gloves but tape the insignia symbol to avoid a clash with the ICC statement.
India take on Australia on Sunday (June 9) in their World Cup Campaign ahead.