Cricket has recently been riddled with players being reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for statements that they deem “political”. ICC has fined and banned players for praying or wearing signs representing conflict, like when England cricket team member Moeen Ali was banned for wearing pro-Palestine wristbands during a match. But it seems that the Indians can’t just digest when the same fines and bans are imposed on their nationalism.
MS Dhoni, Indian wicketkeeper and former captain, has been warned by ICC against wearing the gloves which have an Indian Army insignia printed on them
In his recent matches, the Indian cricketer, MS Dhoni has been using a set of green gloves which have a ‘Balidan badge’ printed on it. The badge falls into the category of armed insignia thus the cricketer has been warned to NOT wear it again. Upon receiving the warning by ICC, BCCI has tried to send in a formal request and have argued that the badge is a non-commercial logo and ICC rules do not explicitly mention the way to deal with such logos.
Previously, Indian cricket team wore army caps to pay a tribute to the armed forces of their country and now there’s more to it.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has requested Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get the 'Balidaan Badge' or the regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces removed from Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wicket-keeping gloves. pic.twitter.com/63rOjsCooX
— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2019
Since then, the Indian media and the Indian awaam are adamant to convince Dhoni to keep playing with the Balidan badge
Indian media has stated that this gesture by Dhoni meant a lot to the Indians which somehow allows him to bypass ICC rules?
They have been arguing that the insignia is neither religious and nor political thus the ICC should allow Dhoni to wear the gloves with the Indian Army insignia.
#DhoniKeepTheGlove | This is neither political or religious. MS Dhoni is actually Lt. Col MS Dhoni. Dhoni's wearing an insignia that is part of his regiment: Major Gaurav Arya (Retd.), Consulting Editor, Strategic Affairs pic.twitter.com/GDaylxOxV7
— Republic (@republic) June 6, 2019
BCCI stands with Dhoni. CoA chief Vinod Rai says, “ICC must allow @msdhoni to keep wearing same gloves.” #DhoniKeepTheGlove
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) June 7, 2019
ICC rule: No logo is allowed to be used other than “National Logo, Commercial Logo, Event Logo, Manufacturer’s Logo, Player’s Bat Logo, Charity Logo, Non-Commercial Logo as provided in these Regulations"
So Balidaan emblem in Dhoni's gloves is Non-Commercial Logo.
What's wrong?
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) June 7, 2019
Indians have been undermining international institutions like ICC by stating that this international body should just go to hell
Dhoni Insignia Row .To put it simply and mildly, BCCI should tell ICC to go to hell .
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 6, 2019
#Dhonikeeptheglove was trending on Twitter and Indians reminded Dhoni that he’s a soldier first
Like WTF?
You are a cricketer, before that you are a soldier!
Lt. Col. MSD pic.twitter.com/pjcslND7px— Samrat Jha (@samratorsam) June 7, 2019
A few even mentioned that the gloves and Dhoni always end up making history
Dhoni & Gloves always makes history!#DhoniKeepTheGlove
— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) June 7, 2019
They stated that ICC was involving the cricketer into unnecessary controversy and they ALL stand with Dhoni
Doesn't matters how much people r trying to bring him down with d unnecessary controversy. His love 4 d armed forces has been intact which is truly commendable.He's Nation's Hero and no one represents the country better than him.
Rt if You Stand with @msdhoni.#DhoniKeepTheGlove pic.twitter.com/Y5hQNEjeOO— Shab (@IamShab07) June 7, 2019
#DhoniKeepTheGlove The country proudly stands with you Mr Dhoni @msdhoni 🙏🙏 https://t.co/lh1nfeCuJd
— Munmun Dutta (@moonstar4u) June 7, 2019
Indians have also come up with comparisons of their own. They have been asserting that if Muslim teams are allowed to pray in a cricket field then Dhoni should also be allowed to wear a military badge
A quick fact for all the people who have been raising this point: praying is part of someone’s fundamental beliefs, not an act of displaying religious or political symbols while playing a match.
They were proudly Muslims on the ground.
Dhoni must proudly be Indian on the ground.#dhonikeeptheglove pic.twitter.com/X4hkDiZx0r— Mangesh Gavhane🇮🇳 (@mr_mangesh22) June 7, 2019
Hey @ICC , Hypocrisy ki bhi koi sima hoti h!
This is NOT This is
Violation of Violation of
Rules Rules pic.twitter.com/UV93C99BPF— 🌺Aparna👒 (@Jayaa_IND) June 7, 2019
If this is allowed, so should be allowed MS Dhoni’s Army Balidaan Badge.
Does ICC permits religion but not Patriotism?#DhoniKeSaathDesh #IndiaWithDhonipic.twitter.com/0XCbNSSdh1
— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) June 7, 2019
People from all over the world have been criticizing Indians and are stating that the rules are meant to be adhered to or else the things can get messy
if ICC allow Dhoni to wear military insignia on his gloves then Fakhar should be allowed to put a photo of Abhinandan on his helmet on 16th June.
— Ahmed (@azkhawaja1) June 7, 2019
Even Fawad Chaudhry weighed in and explained that Dhoni was not on some military mission instead he was there to play for an international tournament
Dhoni is in England to play cricket not to for MahaBharta , what an idiotic debate in Indian Media,a section of Indian media is so obsessed with War they should be sent to Syria, Afghanistan Or Rawanda as mercenaries…. #Idiots https://t.co/WIcPdK5V8g
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 6, 2019
Thankfully, despite the Indian pressure, the request by BCCI was turned down by ICC and MS Dhoni is officially not allowed to wear those gloves in future matches anymore
ICC on MS Dhoni's gloves:
"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." pic.twitter.com/jEueTGcGSK
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 7, 2019
And boy oh boy, Indians are pissed with that decision
@ICC instead of focussing on @dhoni gloves ,you should focus on standard of umpiring..it is a international world cup tournament #CWC19 and not the gully cricket..
— AMIT GUPTA (@AMITGUP85403596) June 7, 2019
@iccworldcup2019 why islamists are allowed to pray on the field…?
MS DHONI can’t even wear a glove with a bravery badge..?????????— tary singh (@tary_singh) June 7, 2019
They’re especially comparing with England’s cricket team wearing what they’re claiming also as military symbols
Dear @ICC
English cricketers can wear the poppy badge to commemorate their soldier's sacrifice then why can't Dhoni wear a badge to commemorate Indian soldier's sacrifice?#DhoniKeepTheGlove#IndiaWithDhoni pic.twitter.com/ttyYGHszhi— Pinakin Rajgor (@pinakinrajgor) June 7, 2019
#ICC I just found out that the 3 lions on England’s jersey signify their armed units so why have you have rejected the appeal for allowing M.S Dhoni’s insignia gloves. Why so hypocrite???#icc #Bcci #IndiaWithDhoni #keepthegloves #mahendrasinghdhoni #cricbuzz
— Vinay Karamchandani (@vinay_47) June 7, 2019
So, what’s your take on the issue? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cover image via: zeenews.india.com