New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips found himself in a controversy during the BAN vs NZ Test in Sylhet as he was spotted applying saliva on the ball, a practice permanently prohibited by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year. The incident occurred during Bangladesh’s second innings when Phillips, while bowling against Najmul Hossain Shanto, was seen applying saliva twice before delivering the ball in the 34th over.
Despite the clear violation of ICC regulations, on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Paul Reiffel refrained from taking any immediate action against Glenn Phillips. The ICC, when approached for comments, declined to speak on the matter, asserting that only match officials are authorized to handle on-field issues.
Law 41.3, implemented in 2020 as a preventive measure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was later adopted as a permanent regulation by the ICC. This law strictly prohibits players from using saliva on the ball to prevent virus transmission. The revised law came into effect on October 1, 2022, prompting players to resort to using sweat for shining or polishing the ball as an alternative to saliva. The incident involving Glenn Phillips serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in adapting to and enforcing these crucial cricketing regulations.
