BCCI Set to Discuss Lifting Saliva Ban in IPL 2025 with Franchise Captains

The captains of all 10 IPL teams are set to meet at the BCCI headquarters on Thursday. One of the key topics they might discuss is whether to lift the ban on using saliva to shine the ball during the tournament.

Some BCCI insiders have mentioned that there have been internal talks about the matter. The final decision is likely to be made only after hearing the opinions of the team captains. The ICC had initially banned the use of saliva to shine the ball during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safety measure and later made the ban permanent in 2022.

The IPL also followed the ICC rules and banned using saliva on the ball. During the ICC Champions Trophy, Mohammed Shami mentioned the importance of using saliva to shine the ball, and Tim Southee supported his statement.

"We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting," Shami had said during the 50-over event in Dubai.

"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 understand that it makes a bigger impact in red ball cricket but even if it can help bowlers a bit in the white ball game, it should be allowed in the IPL, which is a trend setting tournament. Let's see what the captains decide tomorrow," a top BCCI official told PTI.

As per the existing rules, if it is the first instance of applying saliva on the ball, the fielding team's captain is summoned and issued a first warning.

If it is the second instance during an inning, summon the captain of the fielding side and issue a second and final warning to the captain of the fielding side that any further such offense by any member of the team during the innings shall result in that member of the team being fined by BCCI.

If it is the third or subsequent instance inform the player who has applied saliva to the ball on that occasion that he is subject to a fine, payable to BCCI, of the lesser of 10 lakh or 25% of his match fee, states last year's IPL playing conditions.

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