Dhoni Should be Allowed to Wear Army's 'Sacrifice' Gloves: Kiren Rijiju

Guwahati, June 8, 2019:

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stand with former Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and let him carry the 'Balidaan' insignia of the Armed Forces on his wicketkeeping gloves.

The newly-inducted Sports Minister said: "I am hopeful that BCCI will take up this matter with ICC and will solve this matter. Dhoni's identity is country's identity, army's identity and it is not politics. So, BCCI should stand with Dhoni."

But, at the same time, the firebrand politician also clarified that sports bodies like the BCCI work independently and do not face any Government interference. "I would like to say very clearly that the government does not intervene in the affairs of the sports bodies. BCCI or any sports federation, they are autonomous and they run their affairs independently", he said.

The former Indian skipper Dhoni laqnded in controversy after wearing the "Balidaan Badge" (sacrifice badge) of the Indian Para Special Forces on his gloves.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council has vetoed BCCI's persistent attempts to allow MS Dhoni to sport the "insignia" gloves in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.

The ICC confirmed that the logo displayed on Dhoni's wicketkeeping gloves in India's first World Cup match against South Africa is an infringement of the laws of the game.

"The ICC has responded to the BCCI to confirm the logo displayed by MS Dhoni in the previous match is not permitted to be worn on his wicket-keeping gloves at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019," the cricket governing body said in a statement on Friday.

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