Former Indian bowler and Mumbai Indians’ Director of operations Zaheer Khan asks bowlers to adapt with the saliva ban. The ICC has banned the use of saliva ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit the world to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
The 41-year-old said the bowlers will now have to get used to the new normal and be mindful from now on while playing any form of cricket.
“Cricket balls and all that, yes, we have to be little careful of and get used to not using the saliva as well. So old habits, at the time, just creeps in as bowlers so we will have to be mindful of that,” Zaheer said in a video on Twitter.
Bowlers will obviously be at a loss during as the saliva ban as they won’t be able to swing the ball like they used to before the new rules were introduced.
“When you are a professional athlete you have to find a way of keeping that mental space which you like to be in. It varies individually so that is something which every individual has to take care of and own that individual space,” the veteran pacer said.
“I would not say that it is going to be difficult as such it is just a matter of getting used to the new routines and the preparation routines are going to change. You have to keep up with that. It just feels good to be back again out on the field,” he added.
Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings in the tournament opener at Abu Dhabi on September 19. The bowlers of both the teams will have to deal with the challenge of saliva ban.
