The International Cricket Council ((ICC)) on Friday denied allowing MS Dhoni to continue sporting the “Balidaan Badge” on his wicket-keeping gloves. The International cricket body stated that any personal message or logo cannot be displayed on any item of clothing or equipment in an ICC tournament. India vs Australia Live Streaming
HIGHLIGHTS
- BCCI’s request to allow Dhoni to have Army insignia on gloves has been rejected by ICC
- ICC said in a media statement that the logo displayed by Dhoni is not permitted to be worn on his gloves
- It further added the regulations for ICC events do not permit any individual message or logo to be displayed
The BCCI on Friday had sent a request to the game’s world body to make an exception because the insignia was not ‘religious, military, or commercial’ in nature. However, the ICC have refused to budge on the matter. ICC World Cup 2019 Live Streaming
The ICC statement said on Friday, “The ICC has responded to the BCCI to confirm the logo displayed by MS Dhoni in the previous match is not permitted to be worn on his wicket-keeping gloves at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. 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 wicketkeeper gloves.”
The rule-book allows for only one sponsor’s logos on the wicket-keeping gloves. In Dhoni’s case, he already sports an SG logo on his gloves.
The rule G.1 in ICC’s Clothing and equipment Rules and regulation guideline says: “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.” ICC World Cup 2019 Points Table
The first sanction under this offence is a reprimand. For a second offence within 12 months, 25 percent of match fees will be deducted, for the third offence 50 percent and for the fourth offence 75 percent.
Earlier, during India’s World Cup opener against South Africa, Dhoni was once again seen professing his love for the security forces after he was spotted with regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces on his wicket-keeping gloves.
The “Balidaan Badge” or the Army insignia was spotted on Dhoni’s gloves as television replays showed him stumping Phehlukwayo in the 40th over of the innings bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal.
MS Dhoni gloves row: Time for ICC to open eyes, see what’s wrong with its rules
THE THREE DIMENSIONS
In India, the debate has largely been focused on the tangent of nationalism and patriotism i.e. on questions like: How can the ICC ask Dhoni not to wear gloves bearing insignia of the Special Forces?
The other line of argument is that the insignia is apolitical and the controversy totally unwarranted because it was merely a humble gesture from Dhoni to honour the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers.
Earlier in the day, after a day-long meeting in Mumbai on Friday, CoA members came to the decision that a letter asking permission from ICC.
CoA member Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Ravi Thodge told CricketNext after the meeting on Friday, “We are not going against any ICC rules. We are just requesting them to consider the matter since the rules say insignia worn by any player shouldn’t have any religious, military, or commercial significance — which is not there in Dhoni’s case. We have asked the ICC if Dhoni can continue to sport this insignia on his gloves. We took permission from ICC to sport camouflage caps during the India-Australia ODI series. If the rules state that we need to take permission in this case also, we’ll do the same again. We are not demanding anything, it’s just a request to ICC.”
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