MS Dhoni military badge controversy a "non-issue" insists BCCI chief

The India wicket-keeper was fired to remove the insignia from his gloves during the World Cup by the ICC

The BCCI have attempted to downplay the controversy created by MS Dhoni being forced to remove a military badge from his wicketkeeping gloves during the World Cup.

Thirty-eight-year-old Dhoni, who is an honorary lieutenant colonel in India's Parachute Regiment, wore a dagger insignia during his side's opening game against South Africa.

Having breached ICC regulations regarding logos, the veteran was ordered to remove it for future games but avoided any further sanction.

India did appeal to the ICC for special dispensation but their plea was rejected.

Vinod Rai of the BCCI's Chief of Administrators panel which rules on controversial issues such as corruption and ill-discipline, says the body were unaware of the rules and immediately backed down upon learning of the ICC's stance.

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“That was a non-issue," he told Indian Express. "What he wore was not the insignia of his regiment. But he wore something. At that point, at least I did not know that the ICC had rules about what you can put on your gloves.

"I was taken by surprise. I said, look, if he is wearing it, he is free to wear it, and I supported him. 

"Then I was shown 11 pages of ICC norms which say that you can only have your team’s insignia and that of the manufacturers. So we had to withdraw.

“It was a genuine oversight by me. Why should I name anybody else? I did not know that there are such instructions.”