'After retirement Dhoni will have ample opportunities to show patriotism': Asif Iqbal

Lake Louise:  Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal has lauded the spirit of Team India wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who at the instructions from the ICC, wore a new pair of gloves, which had no army logo during India's match against Australia at the Oval on Sunday.

He will continue to show the same gesture in the remaining World Cup matches.

Speaking exclusively over telephone from England, where Asif Iqbal resides now, said,"Dhoni is an icon and will always remain one for what he has contributed to cricket in general and Indian cricket in particular. Once he hangs up his gloves, he will have plenty of time and opportunities to support the causes he believes in".

"In my opinion, World Cup is definitely not the platform and he, besides being a great player, is too good a human being not to get involved in a controversy created by the media..."

"I disagreed with the views that ‘’ it’s an insult to remove the logo’’. In civilized societies, there are rules and regulations one has to follow. When you break the rules, you are punished.

ICC has a code in which it very clearly states that ‘’ no more than two logos of the manufacturers to be displayed on the gloves’’. Simple... when it was noted that MS has breached the rule, he was asked to remove and if he hadn't he would have been penalized".

"I am sure that MS did it with very good intention seeing it as a harmless gesture showing his support and commitment but now that he has been told by ICC to remove, I saw no reason not to", Asif Iqbal concluded.