Dubai A television network has ignited the cricket fever ahead of the ICC World Cup, starting next month in Australia and New Zealand, by unveiling a giant cricket bat at the ICC Cricket Academy.
OSN network, who are the sponsors of the UAE team for the World Cup, have produced a giant cricket bat 32 meters long four metres wide and as tall as an 8 to 10-storey building weighing a mammoth 950 kg and nearly 32 times longer than a standard cricket bat hoping to clinch a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest cricket bat in the world.
The UAE cricket team lined up in front of the bat while hundreds of fans who were present to catch a glimpse of the bat conveyed their best wishes by writing on it. Hamad Malek, Chief Marketing Officer and Andy Warkman, VP Sports and Production at OSN; Maqbul Dudhia, General Manager – Sports Business Dubai Sports City; David East, CEO of Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) , Mazhar Khan UAE team manager and Administrator of ECB and the team’s coach, Aqib Javed were present at the unveiling of the bat.
Placed horizontally, the bat’s length is equivalent to the distance of seven cars parked bumper to bumper. In sheer proportion, it would take a player about 52.8 metres tall to wield the bat.
The bat will be on display at the ICC Academy in Dubai until the end of March and cricket fans here will be able to write a message on the bat, expressing their support for the UAE team in the world cup.
“The unveiling of the world’s largest cricket bat is more than a symbolic gesture; it is our tangible tribute to the world of cricket, while also celebrating OSN’s exclusive telecast rights of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. It also puts the spotlight on the UAE and the steady strides it has made in international cricket. The giant bat will add to the pride of the UAE in its steadfast commitment to promoting the game in the region,” said Malek.
OSN will be telecasting all the UAE’s matches in Australia and New Zealand.
