Indian cricket team violates ICC rules by wearing army caps in ODI

RANCHI (92 News) – The Indian cricket team – wearing army caps to show solidarity with the armed forces – on Friday violated the ICC code of conduct in International ODI against Australia. The games like cricket always symbolized to show peace and played for the refreshment and entertainment but the Indian cricket team tried to politicize for wearing army caps during the ODI match. It is worth mentioning here that in an unprecedented move, the Indian cricket team wore army caps to ‘pay tribute’ to the victims of Pulwama incident and the Indian army, it might actually be a breach of the ICC code of conduct. Meanwhile, after badly defeat in the field of war, the Indian cricket team came to the ground of sports wearing the camouflage caps in the third ODI against Australia. However, Indian team wearing the camouflage caps was also defeated by Australian team in the ground. Australia beat India by 32 runs. Australia beat India by 32 runs in the third one-day international in Ranchi on Friday to keep the five-match series alive. Fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson and leg-spinner Adam Zampa took three wickets each to dismiss the hosts for 281 in 48.2 overs. Australia made 313-5 in their 50 overs. India lead the series 2-1. The fourth ODI is on Sunday in Chandigarh.

One of the rules, under the sub-section ‘Personal Messages’, states:

• Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages through arm bands or items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to religious, political or racial activities or causes.
• The code of conduct further reads, “The ICC shall have the final say in determining whether any such message is approved. For the avoidance of doubt, where a message is approved by the player or team official’s Board but subsequently disapproved by the ICC Cricket Operations Department, the player or team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in International matches.”

BCCI tweeted as saying, “#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces. And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs #JaiHind.”

#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces

And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/fvFxHG20vi — BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019

In one of the tweets, BCCI shared a picture of MS Dhoni presenting the cap to Virat Kohli saying: Lt Col Mahendra Singh Dhoni presents the camouflage cap to Team India Captain, Virat Kohli. Amid the recent tensions between Pakistan and India, the Indian cricketers have been actively seen politicizing the game. Bringing the army into the sport, especially in the wake of recent tensions, is clearly political. While the Pakistani side is trying to diffuse the tensions.

ICC takes notice or not?

It remains to be seen whether the ICC takes notice of the matter or not. If it doesn’t, it would clearly reflect BCCI’s influence in ICC. There are also a number of Indians occupying top positions in international cricket’s governing body. Earlier, the ICC banned English cricketer, Moeen Ali from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands during international matches. Another such incident took place when South African spinner Imran Tahir was reprimanded – citing the display of personal message without prior approval from ICC – for paying tribute to the Islamic scholar Junaid Jamshed after his death.