BCCI asks ICC for 'flexibility' on Dhoni gloves but says will go by the rule

The BCCI has asked the ICC to show “flexibility” with regard to the dagger insignia on MS Dhoni‘s wicketkeeping gloves, but will not escalate the matter if the ICC insists otherwise.

The gloves, which Dhoni wore for India’s tournament opener against South Africa on June 5, were deemed by the ICC to be in breach of tournament’s rules, which clearly say that only the manufacturer’s logo is allowed on them.

The issue is an insignia of a dagger on the back of the green gloves. Dhoni is an honorary lieutenant-colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Territorial Army. The dagger is the emblem of the regiment.

Though the matter gained traction in India and even prompted the intervention of the country’s sports minister, the BCCI called it a “non-issue”. “We will play the game by the rules of the ICC in letter and spirit,” Vinod Rai, the chairman of the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators told ESPNcricinfo. “If there is a specific norm that has to be followed, we will not break that norm. However, if there is any flexibility available, we have sought permission for the ICC to allow the player to wear the gloves.”

The matter was discussed in the CoA meeting held in Mumbai on Friday, which was attended by Rai’s two other colleagues – Diana Edulji and Ravindra Thodge – as well as the BCCI chief executive officer Rahul Johri.

The ICC’s clothing and equipment regulations for the World Cup has a section on keeping gloves. The diagram shows that two manufacturer’s identifications are allowed on the back of each glove. “No visible logos permitted other than those identified in the diagram,” the note accompanying the illustration says.

According to Rai, the insignia is “neither political, nor commercial, nor military”. “And it is not the paramilitary regimental dagger that is embossed on his gloves,” he said. “I am told ICC has specific rules pertaining to the logos on the gloves of the wicketkeeper. If there is rule as specific as that we will 100% conform to the ICC rules. We don’t propose to escalate this non-issue.”

The matter has been complicated by the Indian government’s support for the BCCI’s stand. India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju told the news agency ANI: “The government doesn’t intervene in affairs of sports bodies. But when the issue is related to the country’s sentiments, then the interest of the nation has to be kept in mind. I would like to request BCCI to take up the matter with ICC.”

ESPNcricinfo understands that if the ICC turns down the BCCI request, Dhoni is likely to continue to wear the same gloves but cover the insignia with a tape.

While the ICC is yet to formally respond to the BCCI, it is believed that it will not step back on its stance.