Mohammed Shami’s plea heard: Indian board lifts saliva ban for IPL

Dubai: Fast bowlers struggle on dry pitches, with reverse swing being their only weapon. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the use of saliva — crucial for maintaining reverse swing — during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami made a desperate plea during the Champions Trophy in Dubai, where he toiled on spin-friendly pitches for his wickets.

Mastering reverse swing

“We are trying to reverse, but you are not getting the use of saliva into the game,” Shami told reporters. “We are constantly appealing to allow the use of saliva, and it will be interesting with the reverse swing.”

Saliva helps bowlers keep one side of the ball shiny, creating pressure on the rough side and enabling sharp movement through the air. Reverse swing was first mastered by Pakistani bowlers before the technique spread to other countries.

BCCI lifts saliva ban for IPL

Days after Shami urged the ICC to lift the ban, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approved the use of saliva in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). A majority of captains agreed to the proposal, making the IPL the first major cricket competition to remove the restriction.

The decision was taken at the captains’ meeting in Mumbai ahead of the league’s start on Saturday.

“The saliva ban has been lifted. The majority of captains were in favour of the move. Some had reservations, and some sat on the fence, but most supported it,” a top BCCI official told PTI. “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.”

A welcome move for pacers

The news will be music to the ears of pacers in the IPL, especially the 34-year-old Shami, who recently returned from knee surgery ahead of the Champions Trophy. The Indian bowler took a five-wicket haul in India’s opening win over Bangladesh, followed by three wickets against Australia in the semi-finals and the crucial dismissal of Daryl Mitchell in the final. India won by four wickets, ending a 13-year wait for a 50-over ICC trophy.

Other IPL rule changes

The BCCI also approved the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) for height-related wides and wides outside the off-stump for IPL Season 18. The tournament kicks off in Kolkata with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday.

“Hawk-Eye and ball tracking will be used to decide on height wides and wides outside the off-stump,” the official added.

Additionally, it was agreed that in evening matches, one ball will be changed after the 11th over of the second innings due to dew.

“This is not a rule change; it’s just an understanding for this year between teams and umpires. The changed ball will have wear and tear,” an official said.