New Zealand Jersey Number 69 banned: Why is this jersey number banned in the New Zealand team, it is considered obscene! Who wears t-shirt with this number in Team India?

New Delhi. In cricket, the jersey number is usually associated with the player’s identity, likes and emotions, but there is a number which has made more headlines in the world of controversies than on the playing field, that is the number 69. Interestingly, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has never imposed any official ban on this number, yet there are some countries where wearing this jersey number is prohibited. After all, what is it about number 69 that even the cricket board becomes uneasy about?

Technically speaking, number 69 is completely legal in cricket. There is no mention of ban on this number anywhere in ICC rules. Players can generally choose any jersey number between 1 and 99, provided that number is not already owned by another active player on the team. But the root of the controversy is considered to be the double meaning and sexual references of this number. This is the reason why some national cricket boards consider this number inappropriate and do not allow it to be used in their teams.

New Zealand Cricket Board’s strict stance on number 69

The New Zealand Cricket Board, which is on India tour, is among the few boards which have clearly banned jersey number 69. The most famous example of this is fast bowler Lockie Ferguson. Ferguson used to wear jersey number 69 in his domestic cricket career, but as soon as he made his debut for New Zealand in international cricket, the board asked him to change this number. NZC clarified that 69 is the only number between 1 and 99 that is banned due to its sexual connotations. Apart from New Zealand, no other cricket board has publicly confirmed the official ban on number 69, however, even in countries like England and Australia, this number is rarely seen on players’ jerseys. It is believed that the players themselves avoid choosing this number to avoid controversy.

There is no controversy regarding number 69 in India

There is no restriction or controversy regarding number 69 in Indian cricket. Indian player Karun Nair has currently used this jersey number. In India, jersey numbers are viewed as a matter of personal preference and availability, rather than their perceived meaning. Overall, there is no international ban on number 69 in cricket, but due to social and cultural sensitivities this number still remains a cause of discomfort in some countries. Jersey number may be the identity of a player, but sometimes that identity also becomes a cause of controversy.