MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday, raised the ban on applying saliva on the ball for the future edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to begin on Friday.
According to Indian media, the choice was taken during a meeting of the teams’ captains and managers at the Cricket Centre here on Thursday.
The BCCI also presented a new rule of two balls to the second innings to annul the influence of precipitation and also to deny any advantage for the toss-winning team.
The second ball will originate into play after the 11th over of the second innings.
Temporarily, the inspiring of the saliva ban was on the cards as it had been opposed by several pacers since its permanent application in September 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was welcomed by Gujarat Titans (GT) fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who said that applying saliva on the ball would aid the pacers in opposite swing.
“It’s very good for bowlers. its excellent news for us bowlers because when the ball is not doing everything, applying saliva on the ball will increase the chances of discovery some reverse swing,” Siraj said.
“It sometimes helps reverse swing because rubbing the ball against the shirt will not help (to get reverse swing). But using saliva on the ball will help in upholding (the shine on one side), and it is important.”
Previous, India’s experienced pacer Mohammed Shami had called for the inspiring of the ban following the ultimate champions’ victory over Australia in the semi-final in Dubai.
“We are frustrating [to get reverse swing], but the habit of saliva on the ball is not allowable,” Shami had told reporters.
“We retain attractive that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring opposite swing back into the game and it becomes stimulating.”
His appeal was backed by former New Zealand captain Tim Southee, stating there must be something to favor the bowlers.
“That was a rule transported around Covid with the virus going around the world, but I think as a bowler, you want to have a minor advantage,” Southee had said.
“We see the game going the way it’s going and sighted sides score 362 and more frequently than not over 300 in this preparation. I think there needs to be something in the bowlers’ favour, and whether that’s a little bit of saliva, then yeah, I don’t see why they couldn’t afford to get that back in.”
