Using saliva inside 'bio-secure' environment won't pose any health risk: Shaun Pollock

Former South African captain Shaun Pollock is of the view that cricket can resume normally and the usage of saliva won’t post any health risk if matches are played inside ‘bio-secure’ environment. Earlier, the ICC Cricket Committee had recommended a ban on the use of saliva to polish the ball but allowed sweat as a measure to curb the COVID-19 threat.

England will create a bio-secure environment in a bid to host the West Indies for a three-match series starting July 8, subject to the UK government clearance. And Pollock reckons such measures wouldn’t require banning the usage of saliva.

“I think the environment that’ll end up being created is almost going to be like a bubble. People will get tested, they’ll go into a two-week camp where they’re just going to sit and monitor how the conditions of their bodies change,” Pollock told the ‘Following On Cricket Podcast’.

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“And if there are no symptoms, it doesn’t really matter about shining the ball then, because you’re in the bubble and no one you come into contact with will have coronavirus. So you can just get on with normal proceedings.”

The ECB is gearing up to put up a set of safety measures including playing matches in venues with on-site hotels and compulsory 14-day quarantine period for the visiting team.

“I’d presume that there’d be no crowds in place, every single environment they go into would be cleaned down and sprayed, and everything along those lines,” said Pollock, who has played 303 ODIs and 101 Tests for South Africa.

The cricket fraternity has been left divided after ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendation with former and current bowlers throwing their weight behind the decision. The proposed ban on saliva is likely to be discussed finally during the ICC Board meeting on Wednesday.