Waqar, Holding criticize ICC for discussing legal ball-tampering
Khan Mutasim Billah LifeEditor
Posted - 2020-04-28T21:12:36+06:00
Updated - 2020-04-28T21:12:36+06:00
Many people are saying that the whole world will change due to coronavirus. Needless to say, sports, like everything else, are changing completely. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already started considering legalizing ball tampering due to coronavirus.
A report has been published a few days ago. In Test cricket, the ball was rubbed with saliva or spit to make the reverse swing brighter on one side of the red ball. But coronavirus has taught everyone to think anew about the use of saliva or spit. The ICC's medical team has issued a warning for the future.
In this situation, the ICC is thinking of finding a way to increase the brightness of the ball in a legitimate way. In this case, if illegal acts like ball tampering have to be legalized, then so be it. However, with the substance that will increase the brightness of the ball, the responsibility of supervision will fall on the umpires of the entire field.
The ICC has not yet passed this law. However, since the issue has been raised and proposed by the ICC, discussions are underway. Opinions are coming for and against. However, two legendary pacers, Michael Holding of the
and Waqar Younis of
, find no justification for the ICC's proposed rules. Even former South African fast bowler Alan Donald is completely opposed to the proposal.
Michael Holding called the whole thing self-contradictory.
"I have seen and read this ICC proposal,"
he told
ESPNCricinfo
.
“Bowlers will not be allowed to use spit or saliva to increase the brightness of the ball due to COVID-19. Instead, it will be legal to use any outside artificial substance. I don't see any reason why this rule should be made.”
At the same time, the West Indies legend asked the ICC why they are now pursuing a dual policy on something that had been illegal for so long.
"They have already made a point that if cricket starts again, they want to start in an environmentally friendly situation,"
he said.
He further criticized the ICC, saying,
"What the ICC is saying now is that cricketers should be under home quarantine for two weeks before a match starts. Then when everything is right, the cricketers will know at which venue they will play. Then everyone will go down to play the match again as before. That is, everything will be the same as before. But before that, only a difficult situation will be created.”
Michael Holding added,
"Now if you say you will play cricket in a safe environment, then you are staying in the same hotel and you have no chance to go anywhere outside and play cricket in a safe environment, then why are you so afraid of someone's spit or saliva?"
"All the cricketers who are free of COVID-19 will be fielded,"
he said.
“If the ICC thinks that two weeks of quarantine is not enough, it means that the ICC is forcing everyone to accept 14 days in prison.
“When there are so many problems, what is the need to start cricket? Then why play cricket in such a situation? When this environment is not safe! Please don't make a decision based on any conjecture.”
Former Pakistan captain and fast bowler Waqar Younis said,
"In Test cricket, it is inevitable for bowlers to use spit or saliva to increase the brightness of the ball. As a fast bowler, I totally reject this offer. This is a normal process. Ab all is moving in many players’ hands all day long. How many people are running after it to catch the ball. Sneezing and coughing are done normally. Even then the ball is caught. But spitting or saliva is a natural way to increase brightness. It cannot be controlled by anything else.”
Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | T | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
