The International Cricket Council has in recent times come down firmly on ball-tampering and players have been punished in accordance with its by-laws. However, the ICC seems to have overlooked ball-tampering of a different kind – the disgusting, revolting and very unhygienic practice of applying spittle to the cricket ball by the bowler or other players, in order to keep the ball shining on one side to help it swing and swerve.
This, in my opinion, is worse than scuffing the ball. Also, spittle contains millions of germs which are transferred from mouth to fingers to ball to fingers to mouth and one can imagine the health risks the players are exposed to. It is hoped that the ICC will consider this issue and ban this kind of ball-tampering for the sake of the game of cricket as well as the health of those who play it.
S T Rahman
Lahore