Former Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee has termed the ban of saliva a ”great initiative”, but he also feels that implementing the same will be the challenge. Lee said that bowlers have been using saliva to shine the ball since their childhood and hence adapting will not be easy. The former Australian pacer reckons that ICC shouldn’t be harsh on players using it by mistake.

Speaking on Star Sports” show Cricket Connected, Brett Lee said: “When you have done something your whole life from 8, 9, 10 years of age where you lick your fingers and you put on the ball, it”s very hard to change that overnight too.”

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He further added, So, I think there”s going to be a couple of occasions, or there”s going to be some leniency I think from the ICC, where there may be warnings. It”s a great initiative, it”s going to be very hard to implement I think because cricketers have done this for their whole life.”

Earlier in the statement, ICC said, “The ICC Cricket Committee heard from the Chair of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee Dr. Peter Harcourt regarding the elevated risk of the transmission of the virus through saliva, and unanimously agreed to recommend that the use of saliva to polish the ball be prohibited.”

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It further added, “The committee also noted the medical advice that it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through sweat and saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball whilst recommending that enhanced hygiene measures are implemented on and around the playing field.”

Cricket has also suffered due to the outbreak of COVID-19 with many international and domestic matches canceled for over 2 months. Many  Cricket associations have taken steps to bring the game back and resumption of sporting activities. Following the same,  The International Cricket Council (ICC) has published guidelines for the safe resumption of cricket.