NEW DELHI: In a move that could potentially influence global cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering lifting the ban on applying saliva to the ball during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, scheduled to commence on March 22.
According to PTI, this proposal has been extensively discussed within the BCCI and will be presented to the captains of all IPL teams during a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially prohibited the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In 2022, the ICC made this ban permanent. While the IPL had adhered to the ICC’s guidelines in the aftermath of the pandemic, its playing conditions are not bound by the sport’s governing body.
“Using saliva on the ball was part of the essence of the game until COVID hit. Now that we don’t have that threat anymore, we feel there is no harm in lifting the ban on saliva in the IPL.
“We understand that it makes a bigger impact in red-ball cricket but even if it can help bowlers a bit in the white ball game, it should be allowed in the IPL, which is a trend-setting tournament. Let’s see what the captains decide tomorrow,” a BCCI official told PTI.
If the ban is revoked in the IPL, it could potentially influence the ICC to review its stance on the subject. Several prominent cricketers, including Mohammed Shami, Vernon Philander, and Tim Southee, have previously advocated for the use of saliva to aid reverse swing and maintain a balance between bat and ball.
In addition to the saliva ban discussion, the IPL is set to approve the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) for height wides and wides outside the off-stump.
This move aims to enhance the accuracy of wide ball decisions by utilising Hawk-Eye and ball-tracking technology.
Teams will be allowed to review instances where the on-field umpire has signalled a wide ball for height, enabling them to challenge the decision if they believe the ball was not high enough to warrant a wide call.
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