India, March 6 -- India fast bowler Mohammed Shami found support from former New Zealand and South Africa pacers Tim Southee and Vernon Philander over his demands for the ICC to revoke the ban on using saliva to shine the ball. The ban on saliva, first put in place in May 2020 temporarily during the Covid-19 pandemic, was made permanent in September 2022. Fast bowlers use saliva to shine one side of the ball, which helps it to assist reverse swing, but after the ban on saliva, it has become considerably difficult for bowlers to prepare the ball conducive to reverse swing.

"We are trying [to get reverse swing], but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed," Shami told reporters after India's four-wicket win over Australia in the Cha...