Anil Kumble Believes 'Saliva Ban' Temporary Measure To Control Covid-19 Situation 

ICC cricket committee chairman Anil Kumble believes the ‘saliva ban’ is only a temporary measure taken to control the Covid-19 situation. The provision made by the global governing council keeping in mind the health and safety of players will force to legalise ball-tampering with an artificial substance in use.

The measure has received mixed reactions from the cricket fraternity with Brett Lee and Faf du Plessis suggesting that it will a hard rule to adapt for the players after using ‘saliva’ while playing cricket since the beginning of their careers. England Test captain Joe Root, meanwhile, favoured the decision as he reckoned that the bowlers will up their skills to face the new challenge.

Anil Kumble: this is only an interim measure, things will go back to as normal

Anil Kumble believes the ‘no sweat, so saliva’ rule is only for the time being to control the Covid-19 situation and once things happen to be under control normal cricket will resume. Kumble also said in the past the ICC has focused against using any artificial substance in the game and legalising it will have a great impact.

“this is only an interim measure and as long as we have hopefully control over COVID in a few months or a year’s time then I think things will go back to as normal as it can be,” Anil Kumble said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.

“…if you look back at the history of the game, I mean we have been very critical and we have been very focused on eliminating any external substances coming into the game

“Whether you are literally legalising, if you are looking to do that now which obviously has had a great impact over the last couple of years,” he added.

England fast bowlers Stuart Broad who recently underwent his first individual training did not use any sweat or saliva on the ball. In fact, Australian cricketers have also been asked against the usage of the sweat or saliva, as they near return to training.