Balidaan Badge fiasco: CoA Chief Vinod Rai backs MS Dhoni

India did well on the ground to beat South Africa by 6 wickets to start their World Cup campaign with a bang, but off it, a controversy has hit them. The reason for the controversy is not any team effort but an act of the side’s most experienced campaigner MS Dhoni. The 37-year-old ace wicket-keeper-batsman donned a pair of special gloves that bore the symbol of the regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Military Forces.

While the Indian fans and a section of the media hailed Dhoni for his gesture towards the armed forces, the International Cricket Council (ICC) didn’t appreciate it and asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get it replaced. ICC General Manager – Strategic Communications Claire Furlong confirmed that the BCCI was told about the same and added that it was done so since the act was against the regulations.

However, chief of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that runs the BCCI, Vinod Rai, has backed the player and said he did nothing wrong in sporting the equipment as the symbol is neither religious nor commercial, according to a report in Times Now. He also said that the board will seek permission from the world body.

Dhoni, who is an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of Territorial Army, found support from the fans too. Ace Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt also backed the cricketer saying he did out of his respect for the Indian armed forces.

It may be mentioned here that the entire Indian team had donned the army’s camouflaged cap in an ODI match against Australia in Dhoni’s hometown Ranchi in March to pay respect to the martyrs of the Pulwama terror attack of February 14.

Pakistan reacts to gloves episode

Dhoni’s latest act also earned a backlash from across the border. Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry opined that Dhoni’s job in England was to play cricket and not for Mahabharat. He also ridiculed the debate over the matter in the Indian media and said a section of the Indian media was obsessed with war and advised that they should be sent to countries like Syria, Afghanistan or Rwanda as mercenaries.

In March, too, Pakistan had complained to the ICC to take action over the Indian cricketers’ choosing to sport camouflage military caps in the game against Australia.