BCCI considers lifting saliva ban ahead of IPL 2025 | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: In a transfer that would doubtlessly affect world cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating lifting the ban on making use of saliva to the ball in the course of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, scheduled to start on March 22.
According to PTI, this proposal has been extensively mentioned throughout the BCCI and can be introduced to the captains of all IPL groups throughout a gathering in Mumbai on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially prohibited the age-old observe of making use of saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In 2022, the ICC made this ban everlasting. While the IPL had adhered to the ICC’s pointers within the aftermath of the pandemic, its enjoying circumstances aren’t certain by the game’s governing physique.
“Using saliva on the ball was part of the essence of the game until COVID hit. Now that we don’t have that threat anymore, we feel there is no harm in lifting the ban on saliva in the IPL.
“We perceive that it makes a much bigger influence in red-ball cricket however even when it may possibly assist bowlers a bit within the white ball recreation, it needs to be allowed within the IPL, which is a trend-setting match. Let’s see what the captains determine tomorrow,” a BCCI official told PTI.

If the ban is revoked in the IPL, it could potentially influence the ICC to review its stance on the subject. Several prominent cricketers, including Mohammed Shami, Vernon Philander, and Tim Southee, have previously advocated for the use of saliva to aid reverse swing and maintain a balance between bat and ball.
In addition to the saliva ban discussion, the IPL is set to approve the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) for height wides and wides outside the off-stump.
This move aims to enhance the accuracy of wide ball decisions by utilising Hawk-Eye and ball-tracking technology.
Teams will be allowed to review instances where the on-field umpire has signalled a wide ball for height, enabling them to challenge the decision if they believe the ball was not high enough to warrant a wide call.