West Indies pace legend Michael Holding isn't too sure allowing usage of artificial substance to shine the cricket ball post the COVID-19 pandemic would be a prudent idea. 

Speculations are rife that the traditional usage of sweat, saliva to maintain the shine of the ball could be banned by the ICC as a measure to avoid on-field viral spread. 

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If that indeed happens, the governing body will also be looking to ensure that the balance between two main disciplines of the game isn't affected. 

That, by possibly legalising ball-tampering, allowing some artificial substance to be applied. 

But then the line will also have to be drawn somewhere. 

"It is going to be difficult (for bowlers). The natural inclination for any bowler, once he gets that ball in his hands is to apply saliva or apply sweat and then put it on the ball, that's natural," said Holding on the 'Sony Ten Pit Stop' show aired on channel's Facebook page.

Kookaburra, the Australian ball manufacturer, is currently developing a wax applicator as an alternative for ball-shining when cricket resumes.

"Obviously over a period of time, you will learn and you will adjust. I'm hearing talks about producing some sort of polish that the umpires will take, will keep and you shine the ball in front of the umpire. I am not too sure on how that's going to work, to be honest," he said.

"What sort of polish is that going to be, will it be something that stick on your fingers, will it be slippery, because if that is something that is slippery, you don't want to be having slippery fingers, to grip the ball it is going to be more difficult, I am waiting to hear all the details."

"It is going to be a different world and as far as I am concerned it will be a logical nightmare to keep all those things in place," added Holding. 

The 66-year-old, who played 60 Tests and took 249 wickets for the West Indies, also questioned the need to go that far when cricket would anyway resume in only bio-secure venues. 

"At the moment when you are talking about playing in a biosecure environment ... no spectators, everyone has to be in two-week lockdown before they get into the venue. So that means everyone inside that venue should be free of COVID-19," said Holding. 

"Then I am not sure why you have to worry about saliva or perspiration ... if you are not confident about the two-week period proving enough that you are free of COVID-19, you should not be playing."

(Inputs from PTI)