A day after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote a strongly-worded letter to the ICC demanding disciplinary action against BCCI for allowing its players to wear army camouflage caps in an international match, Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun stated that they were proud to show solidarity with the Indian Armed forces and given circumstances, would do it again.
Team India walked out in the field in the third ODI against Australia at Ranchi wearing camouflaged caps, which attracted a strong reaction from PCB.
“It's not in our hands what the PCB thinks or does. We did this because we felt we need to wear to show respect to our armed forces so we did it,” said Arun on the eve of the series decider against Australia at New Delhi.
“We are very proud to be a part of a cause,” Arun added. The Indian players also decided to donate their match fees to the family's of the martyred soldiers in Pulwama.
Arun also clarified that India had taken permission from ICC.
“We had taken due permission from ICC and I don't see any problem in that,” said Arun.
Earlier, the PCB urged the global cricket body to punish India for sporting camouflage military caps in the third ODI against Australia in Ranchi. In reply, ICC on Monday made it clear that BCCI had taken due permission for the same.
“The BCCI sought permission from the ICC to wear the caps as part of a fundraising drive and in memory of fallen soldiers who have died, which was granted,” ICC's General Manager Strategic Communications Claire Furlong said in a statement.