IPL 2025: BCCI lifts ban on use of saliva to shine the ball
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New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lifted the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, which begins on Saturday. The decision was taken during a meeting of team captains and managers at the board’s headquarters in Mumbai, following majority approval from the captains.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had introduced the saliva ban in May 2020 as a temporary measure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In September 2022, the ban was made permanent. However, the BCCI has now opted to reverse the restriction for the IPL.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the decision was influenced by India pacer Mohammed Shami’s appeal to allow saliva use for achieving reverse swing in international cricket. Shami had voiced his concerns after a Champions Trophy game in Dubai, emphasizing the importance of saliva in assisting bowlers.
"We are trying to reverse, but you are not getting the use of saliva into the game. We are constantly appealing to allow the use of saliva, and it will be interesting with the reverse swing," Shami had said.
Another key decision for IPL 2025 involves the introduction of a second ball after the 11th over of the second innings to counter the impact of dew, which often affects night matches. The BCCI has given umpires the discretion to determine whether the ball needs to be changed, based on the presence of dew.
"It's up to the umpires to determine whether the ball needs to be changed. They will decide based on the presence of dew," a source told Cricbuzz.
This rule will primarily apply to night matches, and it is unlikely that a second ball will be used in afternoon games.
With IANS inputs