World Cup 2019: Fans furious after ICC asks MS Dhoni to remove Army crest from gloves
HIGHLIGHTS
• #DhoniKeepTheGlove trends as fans back MS Dhoni to continue sporting Army crest
• MS Dhoni has worn the Army insignia as a symbol of pride: Riteish Deshmukh
• ICC had asked the BCCI to get the symbol removed from MS Dhoni's gloves
The International Cricket Council's (ICC) directive to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get the Army symbol removed from India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni's gloves has created a huge debate on social media.
MS Dhoni sported a pair of wicketkeeping gloves with regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces during India's World Cup 2019 opener against South Africa at Ageas Bowl in Southampton on June 5.
Images of the "Balidaan Badge" on Dhoni's wicketkeeping gloves went viral on social media with quite a few Indian fans praising the World Cup-winner for his love towards the the Indian Para Special Forces.
Dhoni, an honorary Lieutenant Colonel with the Indian Territorial Army, has been sporting the Balidaan Badge on his gloves and caps for quite some time now.
However, the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC) clearly state that "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."
The ICC on Thursday, in a statement, said it had asked the BCCI to make sure MS Dhoni removes the Army insignia from his wicketkeeping gloves.
Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager, Strategic Communications, said that the BCCI has been asked to get the symbol removed from Dhoni's gloves.
"We have requested the BCCI to get it removed," Claire Furlong said.
The directive has certainly not gone down well with Indian fans, who have even urged the BCCI to boycott the World Cup if Dhoni is not allowed to continue wearing the special pair of gloves.
#DhoniKeepTheGlove" has been trending on several social media platforms ever since the ICC directed the BCCI to remove the Army crest.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry hit out at MS Dhoni for sporting the Balidaan Badge at the World Cup.
"Dhoni is in England to play cricket not to for MahaBharta , what an idiotic debate in Indian Media, a section of Indian media is so obsessed with War they should be sent to Syria, Afghanistan Or Rawanda as mercenaries," Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.