A major row has erupted on social media after the world cricketing body ICC asked the Indian cricket board to ask Mahendra Singh Dhoni to not wear his wicket-keeping gloves with the army insignia. The army insignia used by Dhoni in the last match is his regimental dagger that signifies the ‘sacrifices’ made by the Indian Para Special Forces.
Dhoni was granted an honourary commission by the 106 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Para Regiment to become a Colonel Paratrooper in 2015.
The news of the ICC expressing its displeasure over Dhoni using his regimental dagger sign on a cricket pitch did not go down well with his Indian fans on social media.
Dear @ICC .. Balidan means sacrifice – the motto of the Indian Para Special forces. By getting MS Dhoni to remove the insignia from his gloves, you insult not just the Indian Army but the spirit of sacrifice thats taken a fantastic human being like Dhoni to the top of his game. pic.twitter.com/0wgeXtRmpK
— Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) June 6, 2019
Dhoni Insignia Row .To put it simply and mildly, BCCI should tell ICC to go to hell .
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 6, 2019
Shocked at the irrational and almost juvenile stance of @ICC on MS Dhoni wearing an insignia of Balidan which means sacrifice. It isn’t used for fashion but holds important symbolic meaning. ICC hasn’t only disrespected the Indian Army but the entire country. pic.twitter.com/R2vLm8ZLcV
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 6, 2019
Earlier this year, the Indian team members including Dhoni had courted controversy after they chose to wear army caps during an ODI against Australia at Ranchi to pay their tribute to slain CRPF soldiers, who were killed in the 14 February Pulwama terror attack.