On May 18, 2020, The International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Committee, chaired by former Indian cricketer & commentator, Anil Kumble has recommended a ban on the use of saliva to make the ball shine due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. However, the committee considered ball-shining as safe from the use of sweat.
- The use of saliva to shine the ball, especially in the red-ball format, is meant for swing bowling.
Key Points:
i.The meeting of this panel was done through video-conferencing, in which this decision has been taken after consulting Dr Peter Harcourt of ICC Medical Advisory Committee about the risk of spreading and infection of the virus through saliva.
ii.Other recommendations:
- The committee also recommended that two non-neutral umpires (both from the host nation) should be appointed for a short period of time in view of the travel ban caused by the corona virus.
- The ICC will appoint local elites and international panel referees and umpires. In the country where there is no match officer of the elite panel, match officials of the international panel will be appointed.
- Also, provision for additional DRS -Decision Review System (currently two per innings) appeals for one team in each format has been recommended as an interim measure.
iii.The committee will now send its recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICC in early June 2020 to approve these recommendations and suggestions.
iv.Background: There used to be one local and one neutral umpire in international matches from 1994 to 2001, but from 2002, both neutral umpires were appointed in international matches. Currently, an international match requires four neutral umpires. In Tests where there is a rule of three neutral umpires, one-day matches require two umpires.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Motto– Cricket for good.
Headquarters– Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Chairman– Shashank Manohar.
CEO (Chief Executive Officer)- Manu Sawhney.
