Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju urges BCCI to take up MS Dhoni glove matter to ICC

MS Dhoni’s name came into controversy after a picture emerged on social media with Dhoni sporting the dagger insignia of his regiment of the Indian Para Special Forces. The particular insignia - "Balidaan" - can only be worn by paramilitary commandos and Dhoni had it, thanks to the role an honorary lieutenant colonel of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian territorial army. 

After the incident came to ICC’s notice and they asked the BCCI to have the army logo removed off MS Dhoni's wicket-keeping gloves. The governing body of cricket also pointed out to the BCCI that the logo on the gloves contravenes the ICC clothing and equipment regulations, which allow only sponsor logos on them. However, that created a huge controversy on social media and India’s newly-appointed Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju is the latest to join the bandwagon.

"I am hopeful that BCCI will take up this matter with ICC and will solve this matter. MS Dhoni's identity is the country's identity, the army's identity and it is not politics. So, BCCI should stand with Dhoni. The incident that took place during the World Cup is a thing related to India's reputation, I want to say that BCCI, on their level, should take up the matter with ICC and keeping Indian citizen's emotions in mind, they should put forward their views properly," he told reporters, reported BCCI.

The sports minister also said that the government does not intervene in the affairs of the sports bodies and they will not ask BCCI directly until they come up to them.

"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. I would like to request BCCI to take up the matter with ICC properly and if necessary inform the government accordingly,” Rijiju added.