Saliva banned, ICC to allow Covid sub

MUMBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday, confirmed interim changes to its playing regulations, which include a ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball and a green light to home umpires in international series. ICC ratified recommendations from the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee aimed at mitigating the risks posed by Covid-19 when cricket resumes.

If a player applies saliva to the ball, the umpires will show some leniency initially for adjustment, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning. A team can be issued up to two warnings per innings but repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a 5-run penalty.

Also under the newly approved interim playing laws, teams will be allowed to replace players showing symptoms of Covid-19 only during a Test match. In line with concussion substitutions, the match referee will approve the nearest like-forlike replacement.

The requirement to appoint neutral match officials will be temporarily removed from the playing conditions for all international formats. ICC will appoint local officials from its panel and as a neutralizing measure, there will be an additional DRS review for each team in every innings. Teams will now have three unsuccessful reviews per innings in Tests and two in limited overs.

ICC Cricket Operations team will support match referees when processing code of conduct breaches and a neutral Elite Panel match referee will conduct any hearing remotely via video link.