Recently, India wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni's request for wearing keeping gloves which had a dagger insignia was also refused by the ICC.
ICC cited equipment regulation in both the cases.
"ICC couldn't have made an exception for Dhoni as no personal messages are allowed on equipment. Gayle wanted it but when he was refused permission, he accepted it and moved on," a source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Talking about Dhoni, the official said, "It is not about military symbolism. It is about a simple rule that no personal messages are allowed. If ICC did not make an exception for Gayle, then how come they would make it for Dhoni."
It has also been learnt that even innocuous messages or emojis are not allowed on equipment.
"Tomorrow, Moeen Ali will again request for wearing a 'Free Palestine' wristband which is a direct political message. We did not allow it then and we won't allow it now. You won't be even allowed to have a word like love' embossed on the equipment," the source added.
The ICC allowed the Indian team to wear camouflage caps recently during an international match against Australia because it was a bilateral series.
"A formal request was made by the BCCI as they wanted to use the match as a fund-raiser for the victims of the Pulwama terror attack. In bilateral series, ICC allows teams to do charity. Just like the Pink Test' in Australia for the Jane McGrath foundation that works on breast cancer awareness, the source further added.