Former India fast bowler RP Singh, speaking at Salaam Cricket 2020, said cricket boards need to oraganise domestic tournaments to understand the impact of saliva ban.
Ishant Sharma (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- RP Singh spoke about the impact of saliva ban at Salaam Cricket 2020
- The ICC banned the usage of saliva for safe restart of cricket in the wake of Covid-19
- RP Singh suggested domestic tournaments to test saliva ban impacts
Former India fast bowler RP Singh said the saliva ban due to Covid-19 will make cricket more batsman-friendly.
Speaking at Salaam Cricket 2020, RP Singh said boards must be willing to organise domestic matches before heading into major tournaments and bilateral series.
The ICC ratified Cricket Committee’s recommendation on saliva ban as part of precautionary measures in the times of Covid-19. Cricket Committee chairman Anil Kumble, speaking to India Today, said the measures are temporary solutions but necessary to make sure cricket resumes in a safe and secure environment.
“Cricket will become more batting friendly due to the saliva ban. I think if we can organise a match between two state teams before any tournament and see how it can be played following all SOPs, it will give us a good indication. Holding a big tournament straightaway will be a big challenge,” RP Singh said.
Speaking at Salaam Cricket 2020, India’s spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal also expressed their concerns, saying saliva ban will affect the spinners as well.
“Bowlers will be at a disadvantage because we get a drift in the middle overs that we get by shining the ball using our saliva. If we don’t get that then it will be a problem.
“As a spinner if we don’t get a drift we won’t be as effective. We need a solution to this problem. For spinners and pacers it is very important. Bowlers get a nip by shining the ball,” Chahal said.
Kuldeep Yadav said the ban on saliva will be difficult to manage in red-ball cricket and the game will become batsman’s all the way.
