London/Mumbai, June 7:
The dagger insignia on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wicket-keeping gloves put India’s cricket administrators on collision course with the ICC after the BCCI declined the world body’s “request” to have it removed, instead seeking permission for the star player to sport it.
Dhoni will continue sporting the insignia on his gloves as it is not a military symbol, asserted Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai.
However, the world body is unlikely to accept that stand as the rule-book allows for only one sponsor’s logo on the wicket-keeping gloves. In Dhoni’s case, he already sports an SG logo on his gloves. Allowing the insignia would amount to “equipment sponsorship violation”.
During India’s opening World Cup game against South Africa in Southampton, Dhoni’s green keeping gloves had a dagger logo embossed, which looked more like an Army insignia.
“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 said.
“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.
His statement came after the ICC “requested the BCCI” to ask Dhoni to remove the sign from the gloves, citing rules which forbid display of messages “which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”
It is learnt that following the BCCI’s request, the ICC’s Cricket Operations team will discuss the matter with the World Cup’s Event Technical committee, both headed by Geoff Allardyce.
The BCCI will be required to prove that the dagger insignia is not military symbolism and if the event technical committee is convinced, Dhoni would be allowed to continue sporting it.
Dhoni is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army and dagger is part of their emblem.
“…in any case if they (the ICC) feel we will take permission as we took in the past like if you remember, those camouflage caps. We believe in conforming to norms of the game. And If ICC has a set of rules we will go by them,” Rai said referring to the military caps that the team sported in a match against Australia to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack earlier this year.
“The CoA has not spoken to Dhoni,” he added.
Rai’s fellow CoA member, Diana Edulji also backed Dhoni. (PTI)
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