MUMBAI: When rules of engagement and behavior are determined not by the rule book, but by “status”, we get the unseemly brouhaha that has unfolded around “l’affaire MS Dhoni and his ‘Balidaan Badge’ gloves”.
In a statement Friday evening, the game’s world governing body said: “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 statement came hours after the BCCI sent a letter to the ICC seeking permission for Dhoni to wear the gloves with the “Balidaan Badge”, the regimental dagger insignia of the Army’s Special Forces. The BCCI’s letter was in response to a communication the ICC had sent to the Indian team management, asking for Dhoni to remove the insignia.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai said that the BCCI does not “propose to escalate this non-issue”.
Only problem is that Rai himself had joined the gaggle of “influencial voices” who had made this an issue of national honour. And what has gone under the radar as it were is the casual manner in which the Indian cricket superstar went about the whole ‘Balidaan Badge’ business.
BCCI sources told Indian Express that the CoA was not aware of Dhoni sporting the insignia during India’s opening World Cup match against South Africa until media reports highlighted the issue.
So here’s the thing. Dhoni either chose not to inform the BCCI of his “valorous plans” (in which case he should be disciplined by the Indian cricket board), or he did inform the authorities, in which case the world’s richest and most powerful cricket body is also complicit.
In the middle of all this cacophony it is refreshing to hear what former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has to say on the subject.
“A player should go by the rules and regulations. If it’s against that, then Dhoni will have to remove it,” the torchbearer of Indian football told CNN-News18.
Further, Bhutia also urged Dhoni to “respect the sport first keeping aside everything else”.
SportzPower’s take: It is not the job of the BCCI to act as cheerleader for Dhoni’s post retirement political agenda but to ensure that India, as the most influential stakeholder in the game, wields this enormous power with at least a modicum of magnanimity and grace.
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BCCI ‘requests’ ICC to let Dhoni keep army symbol on gloves
