BCCI Deliberating Lifting Saliva Ban In IPL 2025; All Team Captains To Be Involved In Discussion: Report

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 20:59 IST

The use of saliva, which was banned in 2022 by the ICC, was a common means for pacers across the world to keep the shine intact on one half of the old ball, helping in reverse swing.

Mohammed Shami (AP Photo)

BCCI is reportedly considering lifting the ban on applying saliva on the ball ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Reports suggest that the plea has been discussed internally within the BCCI, and will also include bringing in the captains of all 10 IPL teams for a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.

The use of saliva was a common means for pacers across the world to keep the shine intact on one half of the old ball, helping in reverse swing.

The ICC though banned the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic and made the ban permanent in 2022.

The IPL followed suit, taking on ICC’s ruling on the use of saliva since the pandemic ensued.

But according to a report from PTI, a top official in BCCI has come out and encouraged the IPL to revert their decision on the ban, since the league does not come under the purview of the ICC.

“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,” a top BCCI official reportedly told PTI in an interview.

“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.”

It is not a new call to action but one that had earlier been sounded by the likes of star India pacer Mohammed Shami himself, who requested to ICC to revert their decision on allowing the use of saliva with stalwart pacers such as SA’s Vernon Philander and NZ’s Tim Southee backing the Indian’s appeal.

“We are trying [to get reverse swing], but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed,” Shami told reporters after India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final.

“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.”

As per the existing IPL 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. However, repeated offences will lead to fines as steep as 25% of a player’s match fee.

“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 offence 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 conditions.