Srinagar7 minutes agoAuthor: Haroon Rasheed
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Kashmir’s nearly 100-year-old cricket bat industry is facing acute shortage of raw material. Good quality willow wood is not available in the state. Due to this, running of about 400 cricket bat manufacturing units has become difficult. Fawzul Kabir, spokesperson of the Cricket Bats Manufacturing Association of Kashmir, said that the stock of willow wood is fast depleting.
It takes at least 10 years for a willow tree to mature. The wood of a tree less than this does not make a good quality bat. But it is almost impossible to find a 10 year old willow tree right now. Entrepreneurs say that they are forced to cut a 5-year-old willow tree. This too will not be available in the coming years.
Bats made in Kashmir are very cheap, that’s why the demand is high all over the world.
According to the Cricket Bats Manufacturing Association of Kashmir, the quality of bats made from willow wood is as good as that of English willow bats. Kabir said, ‘The cost of a bat made in England is in lakhs, while we charge only 1-3 thousand rupees per bat. That’s why the demand for bat from Kashmir is high all over the world.
Export of 3 million cricket bats
About 30 lakh cricket bats are exported annually from Kashmir. Entrepreneurs say that orders are being received. They can double production, but not as much wood.
Cost of a bat up to 3,000
Kabir said, ‘Once upon a time we used to sell bats for less than Rs.300. Right now they charge up to Rs 3,000 for a bat according to ICC standards.