PAK vs ZIM: Wahab Riaz Receives Warning From Umpires For Breaching COVID-19 Regulations

Wahab Riaz uses saliva to shine the ball: Former Pakistan captain and commentator, Rameez Raja, cheekily described the part where the umpires were afraid to clear the ball as if it were a hand grenade.

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Pakistani veteran pacer Wahab Riaz violated the Covid-19 protocol during the first T20 against Zimbabwe. The left-arm bowler used saliva to shine the ball in the match played in Rawalpindi on Saturday, as soon as the matter came to the notice of the umpires, the bowler was given a stern warning and the ball was sanitized on the field.

The incident took place is the 11th over of the first innings. The score of visiting team Zimbabwe was 77/3 at the time. Then captain Babar Azam handed the ball to his experienced bowler Wahab Riaz. In the over, Riaz accidentally applied saliva on the ball, which is against the new ICC rules. The match was restarted only after umpires Aleem Dar and Asiya Yakub cleaned the ball with sanitary wipes.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain and commentator, Rameez Raja, cheekily described the part where the umpires were afraid to clear the ball as if it were a hand grenade. Rameez also said that in any series during the Corona epidemic, the ICC should explain all the Coronavirus related guidelines to players ahead of the match.

"I think with the players and officials all in a secure bio-bubble during a series because of the Covid-19 situation authorities need to revisit the regulations governing the game nowadays due to the pandemic," Ramiz said.

Cricket activities were stalled for a long time due to deadly Coronavirus epidemic. The game made its return from the Test series between England and West Indies with new guidelines and rules. Players were prevented from using saliva to shine the ball, and a five-run penalty was also provisioned if found guilty.

This is not the first time that a Pakistani player has broken the Corona Guidelines. Speedster Mohammed Aamir of the Pakistani team that went on a tour of England in August after playing against the West Indies was also issued warning for the use of saliva during the first T20 played at Old Trafford.