Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has targeted one of the country’s most popular supporters’ groups over the use of the Indian flag.

Commenting for ABC Sport during the second day of the first Test against Australia in Perth, Gavaskar, a former Indian captain, shaded himself at the flags inside Perth Stadium owned by the Bharat Army, India’s famed supporters group that travels around the world after the Indians. the cricket team.

The Bharat Army had several flags inside the ground with the words “Bharat” and “Army” written over the saffron and green sections of the flag.

According to Section Two of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971, “there shall be no inscriptions on the national flag” of India.

The same section also states: “The national flag shall not be used as a part of the costume or uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person, nor shall it be embroidered or printed on cushions, handkerchiefs, handkerchiefs, underclothes . or any clothing material”.

Gavaskar pleaded with the Bharat Army to change its flag out of respect for the rules.

“I know it’s not accepted in India,” he said.

“I don’t think these (fans) are really Indians. I am not too sure how many of them have Indian passports so they probably don’t understand the value, relevance, importance of the Indian flag.

“All Indians, including myself, are very grateful for the support they bring to the Indian cricket team, wherever the Indian cricket team plays. We are really, really thankful and grateful for that, but I would ask them not to have their group. the name on the flag of India.

“Design a new flag of your own. If you design a new flag, I will carry it with great pleasure.”

Gavaskar was on air with British commentator Alison Mitchell at the time of his comments, with Mitchell explaining that the flags were similar to those seen from English sports fans at various events around the world.

“It’s quite a thing in England,” she said.

“You’ll have the St George’s Cross flag, the red and white flag of England and then you’ll have the name of the city you’re from or the cricket club you represent over it. In some cases, even football. the team you support is (written) on the flag itself”.

Mitchell received information during the last game session explaining why the Bharat Army flags were not considered to be in violation of Indian laws.

“Their flags are specially made and therefore are not distortions of the national flag and therefore do not break any laws,” she said in a comment to ABC Sport.

“If the BCCI had any problem with him, you can be sure those flags wouldn’t exist.”

The Bharat Army is a supporters’ group that was founded in 1999 by Rakesh Patel, a fan from Manchester, and is the Indian equivalent of England’s famous Barmy Army.

Having started with just four members, the group now has over 160,000 registered members worldwide.

Patel started the Bharat Army in Great Britain during the 1999 World Cup. Earlier, he called the group “the 12th man of the Indian team”.

The Bharat Army has a close association with the Indian cricket team, with numerous cricketers acknowledging the group’s support over the past two decades.