'Should Be Allowed To Use Saliva': Vernon Philander And Tim Southee Back Mohammed Shami's Appeal To ICC On Saliva Ban

Champions Trophy 2025: Following India's win over Australia in the first semi-final match of the Champions Trophy 2025, top seamer Mohammed Shami appealed to the ICC to lift the ban on the usage of saliva on the ball so that the bowlers can get an advantage and bring reverse swing back into the game. Shami is currently the second highest wicket-taker in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy tournament with eight wickets from four matches.

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A Glimpse At India's Performance In Champions Trophy 2025

The Champions Trophy 2025 has been a great campaign for the Men in Blue. The Rohit Sharma-led side have stayed unbeaten in CT 2025 and confirmed their spot in the final of the tournament. Team India started with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 20. Then went on to clinch a stellar six-wicket victory over their arch-rivals Pakistan. The final group stage match for the Men in Blue have been tough but they successfully clinched a 44-run triumph over the Black Caps.

In the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025, the stakes were high for the Men in Blue as they were facing the mighty Australians. However, Virat Kohli 's commanding knock and Shami's three-wicket haul helped Team India clinch a four-wicket win in Dubai.

Following the win, Shami spoke to the reporters and appealed to the ICC to bring back the usage of saliva, so that the bowlers can make the game more interesting.

"We are trying [to get reverse swing], but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed. We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting," Shami said.

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Southee Wants Something In Bowlers' Favour In Cricket

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo's Match Day, former Kiwi cricketer Tim Southee showed support to the Indian bowler and said that the bowlers need something in their favour as well.

"That was a rule brought around Covid with the virus going around the world, but I think as a bowler, you want to have a slight advantage. We see the game going the way it's going and seeing sides score 362 and more often than not over 300 in this format. I think there needs to be something in the bowlers' favour, and whether that's a little bit of saliva, then yeah, I don't see why they couldn't afford to get that back in," Southee said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, former South African all-rounder Vernon Philander also joined hands with Southee and backed Shami's appeal, saying that reverse swing is especially needed in the ODI format.

"I'd like to see that element being brought back into the game because I think it's needed as well. I mean, especially in ODI cricket where we see batters really dominating, especially when you play on surfaces like we've just seen in Pakistan as well where it's really batter friendly," Philander said.

The Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in the final showdown of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9.