Why is it unfair to criticise the Indian team for not wearing black arm bands?

The Indian players were not only criticised for their poor outing on the field during the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan at The Oval but also for not paying homage to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in recent attacks across the border.

The matter was backed by the way the Indian Hockey team paid homage to the Indian Army by wearing black armbands during their Hockey World League semi-final fixture against Pakistan on Sunday not far from where the Indo-Pak cricket game was played.

Questions were raised over the Indian cricket team on this matter, as some of the top media houses – known for being the favourites of the right wing started to spread venom on the matter and even tried to ask a few Indian players why they hadn’t used the armbands in remembrances of the martyrs; while they had no answers to give.

.@YUVSTRONG12 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn't copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/IenxufZIHT

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017

.@hardikpandya7 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn't copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/pT3FXH8R48

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017

However, the Indian team not wearing the armbands can be a result of the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as according to 19 (G) in Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations, that the players and the team officials will not be allowed to convey any sort of messages which are related to the political, religious or racial activities.

Even in a case other than the above-mentioned, the players need a prior approval of the opposition as well as the respective board officials and the ICC Cricket Operations Department.

Back in 2014, ICC banned the England all-rounder Moeen Ali from wearing armbands with “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” written over it. As it was related to a political cause, which meant Moeen ended up on the wrong side of the relevant ICC law. He was in fact fined 50% of his match fees for this activity during the England-India Test at Southampton.

ICC’s Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations Code 19 (G) Personal Messages:

1. Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes. 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’s Cricket Operations Department, the player or team official shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in International Matches.
2. Visible Tattoos (permanent or temporary) incorporating any Commercial or Manufacturer’s Logo shall not be permitted.

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