The wicket-keeping gloves used by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during a recent triangular series one-match in Australia are legal, the Indian manufacturer claims. Dhoni avoided a penalty by agreeing not to use the gloves again after they were found to have illegally large webbing during India's 18-run victory over Australia in Sydney on Sunday.
Former Australian wicketkeeper-turned-television-commentator Ian Healy sparked a probe into the gloves after the Indian skipper pulled off a stunning diving catch to dismiss Adam Gilchrist. The ball lodged in the webbing of Dhoni's gloves and Healy claimed that the webbing was too big and thus illegal. But India's Sunrising Sportings Goods, based in Meerut, north of the capital New Delhi, hit back.
"The same gloves are also being used (under the brand name Puma) by wicket-keeper Gilchrist. Then why are those gloves not termed illegal?" company director Virendra Sareen asked Wednesday's Mid-Day newspaper. "We make gloves as per the ICC's (International Cricket Council) standard specifications and the ICC is wrong in calling them illegal and Healy has no business to blame us as manufacturers," he said.
The ICC said in a statement on Monday the match officials found Dhoni's gloves had extra webbing between the thumb and the forefinger which was a violation of Law 40.2. Dhoni claimed to have used the same gloves during the recent Test series in Australia, but faces a penalty if he uses them again. India and Australia have qualified for the best-of-three finals, starting in Sydney on Sunday.