Indian pacer Mohammad Shami weighed in over probable ban on usage of saliva as a ball-applicator and expressed concerns over the likely imbalance that will cause between the game's two main disciplines.
The ban, as proposed by the ICC's Cricket Committee, could be ratified as early as this month by the governing body, with the respiratory droplets seen as a major source of potential on-field COVID-19 spread.
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"There will be difficulties. We have been accustomed to using saliva since childhood. It's been deeply ingrained ... If you are a fast bowler, instinctively you apply saliva to shine the ball. But yes, if you can maintain the shine of the dry ball, it will definitely reverse," said Shami during an Instagram chat with Rohit Juglan.
Anil Kumble, the former India captain and current head of ICC's Cricket Committee, has said bowlers can still use sweat to polish the ball and maintain its shine. Shami, however, explained why that wouldn't help.
"Sweat and saliva work differently. I don't think it (sweat) will help. I never tried bowling without saliva. Now because of COVID-19 pandemic, it's very important to stop using saliva," he said.
The saliva, it is said, makes one side heavier than the other and helps tilt the ball one way in the air, as to aid the swing.
Meanwhile, Shami also talked about former skipper MS Dhoni's future, as the 38-year-old hasn't played any form of competitive cricket since last year's World Cup semi-final in the UK and hasn't officially quit the international game either.
Dhoni was due to lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2020 but the tournament remains suspended because of the ongoing pandemic.
It has been speculated that Dhoni could still return at the highest level on the back of form and fitness proved in the IPL.
"I played in all the formats under him barring IPL. With regard to guidance, he will always treat his teammates in such a way that you won't even feel that he is MS Dhoni," Shami said.
"He is such a big player. I have a lot of memories of him. Now also we think, Mahi Bhai will come and it will be fun playing."
"One thing I like is he (Dhoni) likes to sit with everyone and have dinner. There are always two-four people with him. We chat till late night, and these are the things that one miss."
While the T20 World Cup in Australia remains greatly uncertain, Shami said even if the tournament goes ahead, players will need good amount of training and game time before stepping on the field for such a marquee tournament.
"We are not machines, can't just switch on and off. As a sportsman, your body needs to get into rhythm. No one has touched bat and ball in this period. So a 10-15 days camp or a couple of series before the World Cup will be helpful to get back the momentum."
There are major logistical obstacles in the way of the T20 World Cup, but India's four-Test tour to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December-January is slightly safer. The Indian team has happy memories of the last trip when it became the first Asian side to win a Test series down under.
"We had partied long with team and family members on the top floor," recalled Shami. "We remember that series no one played selfishly. We want to take challenge anywhere. It will be one to watch and play for."
(Inputs from PTI)
