Cricket players will have to use sweat rather than spit to shine the cricket ball, after the COVID-19 pandemic.
A special ICC cricket committee, led by former Indian captain Anil Kumble, was set up to address specific issues related to COVID-19, including maintaining the condition of the match ball, and the appointment of non-neutral umpires and referees to international cricket.
In June, three major recommendations will be put forward to the ICC for likely sign off by the game's governing body.
The committee heard from ICC medical advisory committee head Dr Peter Harcourt on the elevated risk of virus transmission through saliva and unanimously agreed to recommend that the use of saliva to polish the ball be prohibited.
The committee also noted that medical advice suggested the virus was unlikely to be transmitted through sweat and saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball, while recommending that enhanced hygiene measures were implemented on and around the playing field.
Other rule changes on the table will see home umpires replace neutral officials and teams receive an additional review each innings.
A proposed 'COVID-19 substitute' law was rejected.
