PCB protests over team India donning army caps

Team India raised quite a few eyebrows when they took the field wearing Army caps in the 3rd ODI versus Australia in Ranchi. The original idea was MS Dhoni’s and he handed each of the players a cap.

The aim was to pay tribute to the CRPF Jawans who were martyred at Pulwama on February 14. Also, the team donated its match fees to the families of those who lost their lives.

It has drawn mixed reactions in India as many feel it’s politicising cricket a little too much while others have lauded Virat Kohli’s boys for their move. But that side of the border, Pakistan are not too happy with this action. Pakistan has demanded that the ICC take note of the Indian cricketers’ gesture.

“The world saw that the Indian cricket team wore military caps instead of their own, did ICC not see this? We think that it is the ICC’s responsibility to take notice of this without the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bringing it up,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Pakistan media.Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry echoed Qureshi’s sentiment.

“It’s just not Cricket,” Chaudhry tweeted, posting a picture which showed Indian cricketers wearing the cap. “And if the Indian team will not be stopped, Pak cricket team should wear black bands to remind the world about Indian atrocities in Kashmir,” Chaudhry wrote.

But there’s just one problem. BCCI had already taken permission from the ICC for its players to wear Army caps. According to a report in Times of India, the BCCI clarified that what was done after keeping the ICC in the loop.

Even as the PCB plan to lodge a formal protest, it seems the ICC will not entertain it as permission was already taken. Either Pakistan is not aware of this or in general are not happy at all. Honestly, why are they crying so much, how does it matter whom we pay tribute to wearing what on the field? If the ICC has no objection, there is no reason for PCB to raise a ruckus about it.

PCB protests over team India donning army caps

Team India raised quite a few eyebrows when they took the field wearing Army caps in the 3rd ODI versus Australia in Ranchi. The original idea was MS Dhonis and he handed each of the players a cap. The aim was to pay tribute to the CRPF Jawans who were martyred at Pulwama on February 14. Also, the team donated its match fees to the families of those who lost their lives. It has drawn mixed reactions in India as many feel its politicising cricket a little too much while others have lauded Virat Kohlis boys for their move. But that side of the border, Pakistan are not too happy with this action. Pakistan has demanded that the ICC take note of the Indian cricketers gesture. The world saw that the Indian cricket team wore military caps instead of their own, did ICC not see this? We think that it is the ICCs responsibility to take notice of this without the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bringing it up, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Pakistan media.Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry echoed Qureshis sentiment. Its just not Cricket, Chaudhry tweeted, posting a picture which showed Indian cricketers wearing the cap. And if the Indian team will not be stopped, Pak cricket team should wear black bands to remind the world about Indian atrocities in Kashmir, Chaudhry wrote. But theres just one problem. BCCI had already taken permission from the ICC for its players to wear Army caps. According to a report in Times of India, the BCCI clarified that what was done after keeping the ICC in the loop. Even as the PCB plan to lodge a formal protest, it seems the ICC will not entertain it as permission was already taken. Either Pakistan is not aware of this or in general are not happy at all. Honestly, why are they crying so much, how does it matter whom we pay tribute to wearing what on the field? If the ICC has no objection, there is no reason for PCB to raise a ruckus about it.