The ban on applying saliva on the ball, a Covid-era imposition in cricket, is set to be lifted in the IPL. This follows the IPL captain’s meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday. It is learnt that all 10 captains have agreed to it and an official communication in this regard would be sent to the franchises in due course. The IPL starts with a game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22.
In another development, two balls would be used from each end from the 11th over onwards in this year’s IPL. This is to counter the dew factor. The Impact Player Rule, however, will stay.
The ICC had banned the use of saliva on the ball at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. They made the move permanent in 2022. The IPL, too, followed suit. Of late, however, some players have spoken about lifting the ban, to give the bowlers something to work with.
“We are trying to get reverse swing, but the use of saliva on the ball to shine it is not allowed,” Mohammed Shami told reporters during the Champions Trophy. “We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting.”
The BCCI’s decision has come close on its heels.
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