The Board of Control for Cricket in India has sought a clarification from the Centre if Indian cricketers could use the three colours on the national flag in their costume without the Ashok Chakra after the Government banned display of the tricolour by them in their uniform.

In a letter to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla said "while we wish to follow the Government's directive in this regard, a clarification has been sought by some of the players whether they could simply use the three national colours--saffron, white and green--without the Ashok Chakra, or this too is prohibited."

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Shukla had met the Home Minister in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed the issue with him, informed sources said.

The BCCI Vice President, in his letter, recalled that the BCCI had sought the advice of the Sports Ministry with regard to the national flag being used on the helmets by some of the cricketers playing for the country.

"On February 11, the Sports Ministry, along with a copy of the letter dated February 3 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, communicated to us that the national flag cannot be used as a portion of costume or uniform of any description including helmets," Shukla said.

The BCCI, the sources said, has sought the fresh clarification as the cricketers want to display the tricolour while repesenting the country without causing any insult to the national flag.

The Home Ministry had made it clear that cricketers cannot get the Indian flag embossed on their helmet or their costume as it was violative of Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act, 1971.