Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has reacted to ICC’s committee recommendation to not use saliva on the ball in the wake of coronavirus. ICC will have to find different options to shine the ball because the natural substances have now become the carrier of the deadly virus. However, after consulting the medical team, the committee saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat.
As being said, people will have to live with the virus, and some boards are planning to resume cricket amid pandemic. So, ICC will have to implement new rules to curb the spread of the virus, among which the most debatable topic is the use of saliva or sweat.
Irfan Pathan is contented with ICC’s decision:
Irfan Pathan, who has played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, is satisfied that at least players would be allowed to use sweat. To swing the ball, bowlers need to shine the ball with the sweat while saliva makes the ball heavy which helps in a reverse swing. So, he explained that without the use of natural substances, it would have become tough for bowlers to get wickets, especially in Tests.
“It is the need of the hour for sure. It would have been difficult had they even not allowed the use of sweat. Shining the ball is most important for any bowler, especially if you want to swing the ball. If you want maximum swing, you need to shine the ball,” Pathan told Sportstar during an Instagram Live session on Tuesday.
“Using the spit makes the ball heavy and that sometimes actually helps the bowlers to get reverse swing. But now, the players need to do that with sweat,” Pathan said.
‘Umpires will have to keep reminding’
Irfan Pathan, who retired from international cricket in January this year, believes that players will take time to adjust in new rules. Still, umpires will have to make sure that they are following proper guidelines.
“This is something they have been doing throughout their career. Even I have done that since childhood. Suddenly, when the new rule comes in, it will take some time for the bowlers to get used to it. But I am sure, the umpires will keep reminding the players about the new rules,” Pathan said.
Further, Irfan supported to host matches behind closed doors. But there has been debate on without crowd whether the games will have the same intensity and charm.