Haven’t Spoken to Dhoni But Will Support Him to the Hilt: CoA

The dagger insignia on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wicket-keeping gloves has 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 of seeking permission for the star player to sport it.

Strangely enough, none of the Committee of Administrator’s (CoA) members have spoken to Dhoni about the matter. But they have said that they “will support Dhoni to the hilt.”

“The CoA has not spoken to Dhoni.”

Vinod Rai, CoA Chief

But Rai asserted that Dhoni will continue sporting the insignia on his gloves “as it is not a military symbol.”

"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," said Rai.

“And it is not the paramilitary regimental dagger that is embossed in his gloves. So Dhoni is not in breach of ICC regulations.”

Vinod Rai, CoA Chief

Rai's fellow CoA member, Diana Edulji also backed Dhoni.

“This is not an issue at all. We have not spoken to the team but we will back him (Dhoni) to the hilt, any Indian player for that matter.”

Diana Edulji, CoA

"Dhoni is not a controversial person, let us be very clear on that. I don't see any issue. They did in the past also (on giving permission for wearing caps). Hopefully, things should be sorted out before the the game," she added.

The CoA’s defence is based on the fact that the para-regimental dagger logo has word ‘Balidan’ (sacrifice) inscribed on it, which is not the case with the logo sported by Dhoni.

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.”

Rai clarified that BCCI believes in conforming to the game’s norms. He said that if ICC has a set of rules, “they will go by them like in an earlier instance, when the team sported military insignia in a match against Australia to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack earlier this year.”

“...in any case if they (the ICC) feel we will take permission like 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.” (sic)

Vinod Rai, CoA Chief

(With inputs from PTI)