Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s decision to sport the regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces has found support from Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai, who said on Friday that he will request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow the wicket-keeper to continue sporting the insignia.
Rai was quoted as saying to Times Now that he stands by the side of Dhoni as the insignia on the keeping gloves is ‘neither religious nor commercial’ in nature not even an ‘insignia of his regiment’. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will apply for a formal permission from the ICC in line with their rules and the Indian cricket board will back Dhoni for a formal permission.
#ICCVersusIndia | TIMES NOW EXCLUSIVE: We stand by Dhoni: Vinod Rai, Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief speaks exclusively to @navikakumar on army insignia controversy.
Listen in. pic.twitter.com/doehyIlVd1— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 7, 2019
Dhoni sported the ‘Balidan’ insignia on his gloves in India’s first World Cup game against South Africa on Wednesday.
Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager (Strategic Communications), told PTI on Thursday that the apex body has requested the BCCI to have the sign removed. India’s next game is against Australia on Sunday.
“It is against the regulations and we have requested it is removed,” Furlong told PTI.
When asked if Dhoni, who is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of Territorial Army, could be penalised for the breach of an ICC regulation, she added: “For first breach no, just a request to remove.”
Balidaan is a distinct insignia of the special forces, which form part of the Parachute Regiment. It has a commando dagger pointed downwards, with upward-extending wings extending from the blade and a scroll superimposed on the blade with Balidaan inscribed in Devanagari. Only Paramilitary Commandos are allowed to wear the Balidaan Badge.
As per ICC’s Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations, under G1, “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.”
