By Bipin Dani
Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Ashanta de Mel has welcomed the non-saliva law in cricket.
The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), which governs the laws of the game, will treat the use of saliva as an unfair play.
In the pre-covid pandemic days it was widely used by the bowlers and the fielders to retain shine on the ball.
“It is not a bad idea but a good welcome move. The game was not affected when its use was temporarily banned during these covid days with the fear of spreading the virus”, de Mel, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said on Wednesday morning.
The use of saliva was also mis-used because the players used sugary and gum substances in the mouth”.
Now the players will continue to use sweat for the purpose. “It is to be seen how the players in England’s winter will deal with it when there is no sweating”, de Mel, the former chief selector and team manager added.
Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chief of the medical panel of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has also commended the decision.
“Applying saliva on anything is a very unhygienic act. It is the same as applying on the ball. This Covid has changed the world and it is a good move to move forward”, he said.
MCC’S world cricket committee is an independent body of current and past international cricketers and umpires across the globe.
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena is also a member of the committee, which has forwarded this suggestion along with other major decisions.
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