Rules are meant to be followed, says Sunil Gavaskar on MS Dhoni’s gloves controversy

MS Dhoni’s wicket-keeping gloves with an Army insignia symbol on it has become the talk of the nation over the last few days. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) first requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get the symbol removed from his gloves, the Indian board later asked the apex body to let the veteran wear it. However, it was always against the ICC’s rule books and eventually, they cleared that Dhoni can’t play with the insignia symbol on his gloves.

The nation has backed Dhoni to the hilt over the matter and even the social media is trending with different hashtags such as #Balidaan and #Keeptheglove. However, the former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has given his straightforward opinion and feels that the rules should be followed. Moreover, he also went on to say that he doesn’t even care what MS Dhoni is wearing unless he is doing his job perfectly on the field.

He also recalled Moeen Ali’s instance when the England cricketer wasn’t allowed to wear a wrist band in support of some cause in 2014 and he had to remove it according to the rules.

“I think the rules are meant to be followed. That’s why the rules are there and I would imagine that’s what has been done now with ICC saying that you can’t have that logo. If you remember, a couple of years ago (in 2014), when Moeen Ali was wearing those wrist bands supporting a particular cause. I think he was fined by the ECB,” Gavaskar said while speaking to India Today.

ICC refuses BCCI’s request

Moreover, the ICC finally cleared to the BCCI that MS Dhoni can’t play with the Balidaan Badge on his gloves in India’s next match against Australia. Also, despite not allowing, if the veteran wears it and walks on the field, he might get banned. However, Sunil Gavaskar also added that the former India captain clearly understands whether to play with the badge or not now.