Michael Holding Questions ICC's Proposal Of Banning The Usage Of Saliva And Legalizing Ball Tampering

Former West Indian fast bowling legend Michael Holding has come down hard on the International Cricket Council after reports emerged that the apex cricketing body is contemplating legalizing ball tampering after cricket resumes in the post corona world.

Last week, according to a report published in ESPNCricinfo, the ICC Cricket Executive Committee had discussed the proposal of banning saliva and legalizing the use of artificial substances on a cricket ball.

Holding, while commenting on the same, on ESPNCricinfo, termed the move as self-contradicting and devoid of any logic.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“I have read that ICC is contemplating preventing people from using saliva on the ball due to COVID-19 and allowing them to use foreign substances on the ball to keep the shine on but in front of the umpire. I don’t understand the logic behind that,” Michael Holding told ESPNCricinfo.

Earlier, the ICC had said that cricket has to be played in a bio-secure environment which basically means that the players have to be isolated for a period of two weeks before the commencement of the match.

“Before they got to that point they said if they restart cricket it has to be played in a bio-secure environment. They were saying cricket, for instance would have to isolate themselves for two weeks to make sure that everything was fine for when they got to the venue before the match started. And everyone involved (with the match) will have to do the same thing,” Michael Holding said.

Also Read: Ball-Tampering Could Become Legal In The Post Corona World: Report

Michael Holding terms ICC’s proposal of banning saliva and legalizing ball-tampering as absurd and devoid of logic

What Holding can’t fathom is if players are themselves COVID free by staying in isolation for a couple of weeks, why can’t they use saliva. And, if they aren’t corona-free, why risk their life by playing cricket.

“Now, if you are saying everyone is in the bio-secure environment, you are staying in the same hotel, you are not moving for the length of time you are playing the matches, if that is the case why are you worried about someone’s saliva? Michael Holding questioned.

He added: “That person according to what you are doing should be free of Covid-19. If the ICC thinks that the two-week period to prove that you are free of Covid-19 is not foolproof, then that means you are putting everyone in that environment in jeopardy? Why would you want to play cricket under those circumstances? It’s either safe or it’s not. No guessing, please,” said Holding.

The world of cricket is currently divided on the issue. While the likes of Holding, Waqar Younis have come out in support of using saliva, Alan Donald is all for banning it.

Also Read: ICC Agree On FTP Overhaul; World Test Championship Cycle Set To Be Affected