Balidaan Badge fiasco: Paresh Rawal feels BCCI should ask ICC to go to hell

MS Dhoni was seen wearing something special on his wicket-keeping gloves in India’s first ICC World Cup 2019 match against South Africa. His gloves bore an insignia which closely resembled the ‘Balidaan’ badge of the Indian Paramilitary forces and he wore it to pay homage to the brave soldiers of the unit.

However, this didn’t go down well with the ICC, as their rules and regulations state that “The ICC equipment and clothing regulations do not permit the display of messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match.” Dhoni’s seemingly harmless gesture has now been blown out of proportion with Indian media and fans slamming the ICC.

Actor Paresh Rawal gives his views on what BCCI should do

MS Dhoni was conferred an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment in 2011, had also undergone training under the Para Brigade in 2015. He had made 3-4 jumps with the parachute brigade and has previously paid tribute to the armed forces by wearing camouflaged keeping gloves.

Recently in an ODI against Australia at home, Dhoni also presented the Indian team with special caps that had the army’s camouflage design on it and the team played the match wearing those caps and BCCI announced that one match every year will see the team playing wearing such caps to salute our soldiers.

But with ICC asking the BCCI to tell Dhoni to stop using those gloves or remove the insignia, a furor has begun on social media with fans trending #DhoniKeepTheGlove and even many celebrities have decided to support the former Indian captain in his cause. The BCCI as well has decided to back their player and have written to ICC to get permission for continue wearing the glove, as they feel the symbol is not related to politics or religion and hence doesn’t break any rules.

Actor and BJP leader Paresh Rawal has now come up with his idea of what BCCI should tell ICC to do in this Dhoni insignia row. He feels that it is wrong of ICC to ask Dhoni to remove is glove with insignia and tweeted, “Dhoni Insignia Row. To put it simply and mildly, BCCI should tell ICC to go to hell.”