Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Mar 26: With the commencement of Indian premier League (IPL) 2024, the demand for the Kashmir willow cricket bats has soared across the India.
The year 2024 is going to be a yet another year for cricket as after IPL, a mega cricket tournament T20 world cup will commence from June.
As of now the cricket bat manufactures have enhanced their production to meet the demand in the domestic as well as international market during these two mega cricket contests.
Fawzul Kabir, spokesperson of the Kashmir Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association said that the demand of the Kashmir willow cricket bats has doubled this year.
He said the demand is on the higher side due to the ongoing IPL and upcoming T20 world cup.
“The demand for Kashmir willow cricket bats has increased this year. With the beginning of IPL, the demand is expected to go up further and we may receive more orders within the domestic market in coming weeks,” Kabir said.
He said the Kashmir willow cricket bat industry has come into limelight after legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar promoted it.
“Sachin Tendulkar acknowledged the cricket bat industry of Kashmir. His visit to the local cricket bat manufacturing unit was the shot in the arm for the entire industry. Our sales picked up and more orders started coming especially after he promoted our cricket bats. Since IPL fever has gripped the entire country, we hope our sales will go up further in coming days,” Kabir said.
He said the cricket bat manufacturers anticipate the peak during the T20 world cup. “Bigger tournaments like world cup has been always a lucrative season for cricket bat manufacturers of Kashmir. Right now cricket bat manufacturers are busy with the enhancement of the production to meet the demand during the world cup,” Kabir said.
Currently, Kashmir has 400 factories manufacturing cricket bats. Over 1.5 lakh people are directly and indirectly associated with this trade.
Jammu and Kashmir government is also working hard to get a geographic indication (GI) for Kashmir willow bats.
