Former Indian skipper and wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni opted out of India’s current tour to West Indies (August 3-September 3). Instead, he is training with the Indian army from July 31 to August 15. In 2011, MS Dhoni was awarded the rank of honourary lieutenant colonel.
According to a hand out issued by the Indian army, MS Dhoni would be serving his term with 106 Territorial Army Battalion (106) and is supposed to perform patrolling, guard and post duties.
MS Dhoni serving a term with the Indian army instead of joining the Indian squad to West Indies remained a spicy media news for days. In a press statement, former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir praised MS Dhoni’s decision: ‘I have said many times before that Dhoni should wear the Army uniform only when he does something for the army and now Dhoni has decided to spend time with the Army, it shows that how devoted and serious he is to the Army. MS DHONI FROM HELICOPTER TO GRACE
This step of Dhoni will work as inspiration for many young people of the country and they will be motivated to join the Army’. Unsurprisingly, Mr Ghambir is a proud member of Hindutva Brigade and was elected as Lok Sabha member earlier this year from Delhi.
However, the most ugly expression of cricket’s militarisation was witnessed earlier in March this year when the Indian side sported military caps in a one-day match against visiting side Australia. In the one-day game at Ranchi on March 8, the Indian side donned army caps as a gesture of solidarity with the Indian soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack.
Besides flashing their military caps, the Indian side also donated their match fee to raise funds for the families of Pulwama victims. Such was the enthusiasm for military caps that former skipper Sunil Gavaskar was seen distributing military caps among the commentators occupying the commentary box. The Indian commentators in the commentary box commentated sporting military caps.
Ironically, India lost the match despite Virat Kohli’s signature century. The event provided a chance for Pakistani social media warriors to post memes besides a strong-worded protest letter to the ICC by the PCB. The PCB pointed out that the military caps violated ICC rules.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s own record in this regard is not unblemished. April last year, Hasan Ali was spotted at Wahga-Attari flag-lowering ceremony where he performed his signature wicket-celebrating gesture. Patting his this, kabbadi-style, he was seen challenging the Indian soldiers. Of course, Pakistani media highlighted Ali’s antics. India, in turn not merely protested but in a tit-for-tat response brought Virat Kohli to the flag lowering ceremony. Though Kohli did not perform his emblematic bhangra yet he was wearing a military hat.
Earlier, in 2016 ahead of England tour, Pakistani side trained at the PMA Kakul. During the English tour, skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, to celebrate his century, offered a military-style mock salute and worked out push ups as a gesture of gratitude to his military trainers. In fact, Team Pakistan was seen working out push ups after a test win. The Pakistani side yet again trained at the PMA in 2018 ahead of Asia Cup. Pity, to quote Marx, the second time proved a farce in terms of performance.
Meantime, the ICC hypocritically ignores this flagrant militarisation. While Pakistan’s protest against Indian use of military caps was dismissed on spurious grounds, the ICC banned Moin Ali from wearing wrist bands in support of Palestine. By the way, Moin Ali style celebrity activism is hypocritical in itself. Palestine is a safe bet. One wonders if he would express similar concern for, say, Yemen?
