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ICC pitches for designer bats

Rakesh Sood

Posted: 2008-01-10 00:00:00+05:30 IST
Updated: Jan 09, 2008 at 2302 hrs IST

New Delhi, Jan 9: Winning a bid to sponsor Indian cricket team uniforms is a passé. Now, it's the bat, all set to be a company's new sponsorship canvas and allow it to pay its tribute to cricket. The move has already been initiated by International Cricket Council (ICC) which has invited samples of new designs from the bat manufacturers.

The new avtar will soon be seen hitting fours and sixes at international cricket arena after it passes the trials at Imperial College of Engalnd. Therafter, the selected pieces will be displayed in the annual general body meeting of ICC in May for its formal approval for the bats to be used from October 2008.

Almost three decades ago, Kerry Packer of Australia started one-day cricket series when every body was taken by surprise. Today, one day international series is another name of cricket. Subsequently, companies were seen in a cut-throat competition to design and sponsor cricketers' uniforms. Now, it will be the bat.

During the recent Twenty-20 World Cup series, many renowned companies claimed to offer special bats series for our cricketers. It is official now. Confirming the move, the secretary general of All India Sports Goods Manufacturers Association, Rakesh Mahajan told FE that a letter has been received in this regard. If the idea clicks, it would revolutionalise the bat-manufacturing industry. The cricket operations manager of ICC, Clive Hitchcock, had written to globally-renowned bat manufacturers to design a new product, he added.

Though the height, breadth and thickness will be retained, it is expected to bear a more colourful and a new look. Also, ICC has permitted a minor change in the design. As per the communiqué, the new product will be all in wood. ICC has also raised questions about the synthetic handle used to enhance the stroke speed of the current bat. It has asked the manufacturers to design the all-wood or canewood bat handle.

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