- The ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble banned saliva use to shine the ball due to threat of COVID-19 infection spread.
- The regulation to ban saliva to shine the ball has been put in place because spitting on the ball elevates the risk of virus transmission.
- 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.