'I Think Competition Should Be Fair': Ishant Sharma Has His Say On Saliva Ban

Team India's senior paceman Ishant Sharma believes the ban on saliva will tilt the game in batsmen favour.

Photo: AFP

All the bowlers around the world have been kind off forced to think how to get rid of the habit of using saliva to shine the cricket ball after International Cricket Council's (ICC) recently banned use of saliva in the view of the fast-spreading coronavirus around the world. Indian cricket team veteran speedster Ishant Sharma believes the ban on saliva will tilt the game in batsmen favour. "If we don't shine the red ball, it doesn't swing and if it doesn't swing then it becomes really easy for the batsman. I think the competition should be fair and not a batsman dominated game," Ishant said on the Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'. Using saliva to shine the ball helps bowlers to swing the ball. Ishant feels bowlers, in order to avoid the use of saliva, need to take "special precautions". "I feel that the most important thing will be avoiding the use of saliva on the ball and refraining from shining the ball. We will have to take special precautions for this as we are used to shining the ball, especially the red ball," he added. BCCI recently nominated, youngest Indian to play all three formats of the game, Ishant Sharma for the prestigious Arjuna Awards 2020. Despite being prone to injuries, Ishant Sharma has fought hard to be back on the field and his contribution has been vital in Indian team's long run as the No. 1 Test side. The BCCI in the release said: "The Government of India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had sought invitations for the respective awards with the period of consideration beginning 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019."