No saliva law a welcomed move: Ashantha de Mel

By Bipin Dani   

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Ashantha de Mel has welcomed  the new law in cricket that aims to stop the use of saliva to shine the  ball.  
The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) which governs the laws of the game, will treat the use of saliva as unfair play.   

Pre-Covid 19 saliva was widely used by the bowlers and the fielders to retain shine on the ball.   

“It is not a bad idea but a good welcomed move. The game  was not affected when its use was temporarily banned during these Covid  days with the fear of spreading the virus,” de Mel, said yesterday.   

The use of saliva was also mis-used because the players  used sugary and gum substances in the mouth.” Now the players will  continue to use sweat for the purpose. 
“It is to be seen how the players  in England’s winter will deal with it when there is no sweating,” de  Mel, the former Chief Selector and team Manager added.   
Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Chief of the medical panel of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has also commended the decision.   

“Applying saliva on anything is a very unhygienic act. This  epidemic changed the world and it is a good move to move forward with,”  he said.   

MCC’s World Cricket Committee is an independent body of current and past international cricketers and umpires across the globe.   

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena is also a member of the  committee, which has forwarded this suggestion along with other major  decisions.