NEW DELHI, Feb 23: When India's cricketers clash with arch-rivals Pakistan at home next month they will not be allowed to wear their patriotism on their sleeves - or gear.

A government decree last week prohibited cricketers and other sports stars from displaying the tricolour - the national flag - anywhere on their kit.

Sachin Tendulkar's helmet will not have the tricolour embossed in front, neither will captain Saurav Ganguly be allowed to wear his trademark batting gloves painted in the orange, white and green colours of the Indian flag.

The federal home ministry cited the Flag Code of India which says the tricolour should not be used on costumes or embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs and dress material.

The decree has left all, including Sports Minister Sunil Dutt, the cricketers and other sports people, nonplussed. "I personally feel the cricketers should use the tricolour," said Dutt.

"The national flag acts as a morale-booster. "But I have to follow orders. It is the home ministry which takes decisions with regard to issues involving use of national flag."

Tendulkar and Ganguly said they will follow any instructions from the government, but team-mates and other Indian sportsmen could not hide their displeasure. "It's their viewpoint, but I take great pride in playing with the national flag on the helmet," said cricketer Yuvraj Singh. "It's a different feeling altogether."

Shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an army officer who won independent India's first Olympic silver medal at the Athens Games last year, found the government's decision "strange."

"It's a different high when I wear the India flag on my chest," said Rathore. "And it is an honour. You would feel out of place when at some event your rivals will be standing in their national colours while you are blank.

"The decision is strange but we can't help it." India's first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, whose specially designed helmet sports the tricolour, was equally bemused.

"If that is what the government wants, it's their loss," said Karthikeyan, who makes his F1 debut at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 6. "We as sportsmen are only doing the country proud by performing well.

"I have the tricolour on my helmet, but I can probably sell that space to sponsors and make a lot of money. "I love India and I am proud to be an Indian and that's what I want to portray. But if I can't carry the tricolour on my helmet, it is the government's loss."

Former Indian cricket captain Bishen Bedi, however, jumped to the government's defence. "The national flag is most important and should be duly respected," said Bedi.

"You can't put the helmet with the India flag alongside your shoes. "I don't see it as a motivation tool, national pride or patriotism. It's all in the heart." The decree is seen as a move by the government to hit back at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which takes pride in its autonomous nature.

In recent Supreme Court hearings to decide if the BCCI came under the purview of the government, the board's lawyer said the players play for Team BCCI and not Team India.

"The BCCI should be happy not to use the flag on the helmet," the Times of India quoted an unnamed top government official as saying. "After all, they gave an affidavit in the court that they have nothing to do with the government." -AFP